XN000022-1985-07-19 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1985

BILL SEEKS TO CLARIFY GOODS VEHICLE LOAD LIMIT

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THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO CLARIFY THE LAW ON THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ALLOWED ON GOODS VEHICLES AND THE MAXIMUM LOAD THEY ARE PERMITTED TO CARRY.

UNDER A ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1985 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO ASSIGN OR DETERMINE A PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT TO A GOODS VEHICLE INDIVIDUALLY AS WAS THE CASE BEFORE THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE WAS REVISED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR,

FOLLOWING THE REVISION OF THE ORDINANCE, GOODS VEHICLES ARE NOW CLASSIFIED UNDER SEVERAL CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO WEIGHT AND A UNIFORM GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT IS PRESCRIBED FOR EACH CATEGORY OF VEHICLE.

IF THE AMENDMENT BILL IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO INTRODUCE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (TRAFFIC CONTROL) REGULATIONS AND THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS.

THESE FURTHER AMENDMENTS WILL DETAIL HOW THE COMMISSIONER MAY ASSIGN A PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT TO A VEHICLE AT THE TIME IT IS REGISTERED OR LICENSED, AND TO VALIDATE ALL ASSIGNMENTS ALREADY MADE FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE.

THE REGULATIONS WILL ALSO SPECIFY THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ON GOODS VEHICLES THAT MAY BE CARRIED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 1989, WHEN A NEW PROVISION UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC (TRAFFIC CONTROL) REGULATIONS STIPULATING PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED SEATS AND A CONTROLLED NUMBER OF PASSENGERS COMES INTO EFFECT.

FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1989, THE PASSENGER CARRYING CAPACITY OF GOODS VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO CONFORM STRICTLY TO THAT LAID DOWN IN THE REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS OF THE VEHICLES. BEFORE THEN, DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, A LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CARRY MORE THAN ONE PASSENGER IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBER SPECIFIED

IN ITS REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF FIVE PASSENGERS. A MEDIUM OR HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO CARRY UP TO FIVE PASSENGERS SEATED OR UNSEATED,

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD REFLECT MORE SPECIFICALLY THE INTENTION OF THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE AND ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY.

THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1985 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 24. PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, AT ST JOHN'S BUILDING, 8TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.

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