XN000022-1974-01-30 — Page 6

Wednesday, January 30, 1974

FIXED PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC OFFENCES

25 Per Cent Saving In Police Time

The Attorney-General, Mr. John Hobley, said today that the new

legislation to streamline traffic offence procedures and make Hong Kong's roads cafer would result in a 25 per cent saving in police time as well as

save the time of the courts.

Last year, he said, almost half a million police man-hours were

taken up in implementing the existing procedures.

"The problem could be solved quite substantially if drivers and vehicle owners showed more consideration and honoured the responsibilities which go with the right to drive and the ownership of a vehicle," he added,

Mr. Hobley was speaking in the Legislative Council when he moved the second reading of the Fixed Penalty (Criminal Proceedings) Bill 1974.

He said the government considered that some change in the existing

The first was that the procedures was essential for two main reasons. resources of the Police Force might be used to the best advantage from the point of view of the public, and the second was that the new legislation would ensure that offences against traffic laws could be brought home to

offenders swiftly and effectively.

first

Mr. Hobley said that the Bill had two main points.

He emphasised that Part Two of the Bill, which seeks to introduce a fixed penalty system for a wide range of traffic offences, was concerned

entirely with the enforcement procedures.

It did not create any new traffic

offences and, therefore, did not affect the substantive law,

/Mr. Hobely