XN000022-1994-11-09 — Page 41

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994

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MATCH WHILST OTHER COUNTRIES MAY HAVE PLUGS AND ADAPTORS WHICH BRITISH STANDARDS IN TERMS OF SAFETY, THEY CANNOT BE USED IN HONG KONG BECAUSE THEY DO NOT MATCH OUR ELECTRICAL SOCKET AND SUPPLY SYSTEM.

THE

MR PRESIDENT, AS MR TIEN HAS POINTED OUT, IT WILL BE NECESSARY

ONCE THE SOME PRODUCTS TO BE FITTED WITH NEW PLUGS FOR

REGULATION COMES INTO EFFECT. THIS SHOULD BE A TRANSITIONAL SITUATION AS IN

PLUGS FUTURE I WOULD EXPECT THE TRADE ONLY TO ORDER STOCK FITTED WITH MEETING THE PRESCRIBED STANDARDS - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGULATION ADJUST TO HAS BEEN DEFERRED UNTIL MARCH 1995 TO ENABLE THE TRADE TO THE NEW REQUIREMENTS.

Q

SAFETY OF CHILDREN RIDING BICYCLES

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PEGGY LAM AND A REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARMA, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}:

QUESTION : IN ORDER то ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN RIDING

BICYCLES, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL :

(A)

(B)

WHETHER CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO REQUIRING CHILDREN TO WEAR HELMETS WHEN RIDING BICYCLES; AND

WHAT MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO ENFORCE THE REGULATION PROHIBITING CHILDREN FROM RIDING BICYCLES BEYOND CYCLING TRACKS?

REPLY

MR PRESIDENT,

(A)

(B)

THE POLICE HAVE ADVISED THAT CYCLING BY YOUNG CHILDREN ON ROADS IS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM.

WE CONDUCT PERIODIC REVIEWS OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE (CAP 374) AND THE ROAD USERS' GUIDE, IN CONSULTATION WITH BOTH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE AND IN THE COURSE OF SUCH REVIEWS WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED, OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND RELATED SAFETY MATTERS. WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO LEGISLATE ΤΟ REQUIRE CHILDREN TO WEAR HELMETS WHEN RIDING BICYCLES.

WITH THIS

SECTION

DEALS 54 OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE RESTRICTIONS ON THE HIRE AND RIDING OF BICYCLES. ALLOWS FOR THE RENTAL OF BICYCLES TO CHILDREN AND FOR THEM TO RIDE ON CYCLE TRACKS OR IN DESIGNATED PARKS. HOWEVER, THE LAW IS QUITE EXPLICIT THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PERSON TO RENT A CYCLE TO A CHILD UNDER 11 YEARS OF AGE OR TO PERMIT AN UNACCOMPANIED CHILD TO RIDE A CYCLE OUTSIDE SUCH AREAS.

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