XN000022-1982-12-08 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1982

EXTENSIVE DEBATE ON ROAD TRAFFIC BILL

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THE CHINESE TRANSLATION OF THE TERM +RECKLESS DRIVING+ IN THE CONTROVERSIAL ROAD TRAFFIC BILL CAME UNDER ATTACK BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE BILL WHICH PROPOSES A REVAMPING OF THE EXISTING ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE WAS DEBATED AT THE COUNCIL TODAY, BUT ITS COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING WERE ADJOURNED TO THE NEXT MEETING.

THE HON S.L. CHEN, CONVENER OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES WORK ING GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS WHICH LOOKED INTO THE BILL, SAID DURING THE DEBATE THAT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF UNNECESSARY ANXIETY IN THE PUBLIC MIND OVER THIS BILL HAD BEEN INDUCED BY THE +WOEFULLY INADEQUATE AND MISLEADING+ CHINESE TRANSLATION OF THE TERM +RECKLESS DRIVING+.

+WE ARE FIRMLY OF THE VIEW

GIVES A FALSE IMPRESSION, HE SAID.

THAT THE PRESENT TRANSLATION

→IT DOES NOT CARRY WITH IT THE CONCEPT OF 'DISREGARD OF CONSEQUENCES' WHICH IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE MEANING OF THE ENGLISH TERM, INSTEAD IT IMPLIES A LACK OF CARE MORE AKIN TO CARELESSNESS.+

HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK CLOSELY INTO THE MATTER TO PRODUCE A FORM OF WORDS WHICH WOULD ACCURATELY REFLECT THE REAL MEANING OF THE ENGLISH TERM.

AND UNTIL THIS WAS DONE, HE ADDED, THE WIDESPREAD AND UNDERSTANDABLE FEAR OF THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE DIMINISHED AND OPPOSITION TO IT WOULD PROBABLY PERSIST.

ON THE BILL ITSELF, MR CHEN SAID THAT A PACKAGE OF OVER 30 AMENDMENTS WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE.

THE CHANGES CAME AFTER THE WORKING GROUP HELD NINE MEETINGS AMONG THEMSELVES AND TWO LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

HE SAID ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS OF THE UNOFFICIALS HAD BEEN ON THE QUESTION OF RECKLESS DRIVING+.

ALTHOUGH THEY HAD MUCH SYMPATHY WITH THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE +RECKLESS DRIVING FORMALLY DEFINED IN THE LAW, THEY HAD SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY COME TO THE VIEW AFTER HAVING STUDIED THE MATTER CAREFULLY, THAT A DEFINITION OF THE TERM WOULD NOT BE IN THE INTEREST OF EITHER THE DEFENDANT IN COURT OR TE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

+WE ARE THEREFORE REASSURED BY THE UNDERTAKINGS WHICH WE HAVE OBTAINED FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AS TO THE PROCEDURE FOR THE CHARGING AND PROSECUTION OF OFFENCES OF RECKLESS PRIVING.

/+SUFFICE IT