ENG-1958 — Page 250

206

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

this subject up to date and generally follow the practice in force in the United Kingdom.

Education of the public in road safety was undertaken con- tinuously throughout the year by means of a Traffic Exhibition, a Traffic Safety Week, and lectures to school children and others. The main theme was pedestrian crossings and their use. Special task forces were sent out to show people on the ground how to use pedestrian crossings and motorists how to observe them. The results were most encouraging and contributed materially to road safety and an improved standard of good manners and courtesy.

Together with a substantial increase in registered vehicles, there was also a sharp rise in traffic accidents. Fatal accidents rose from 125 in 1957 to 154 in 1958, while accidents involving serious injury increased from 748 to 951 for the same period. Comparative figures for the last five years are:

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

Fatal

101

139

131

125

154

Serious Injury

621

735

672

748

951

Slight Injury

3,397

3,745

3,618

3,726

4,513

Damage Only

5,119

7,156

7,580 7,415 9,032

Total

9,238 11.775

12,001 12,014 14,650

The number of drivers increased by 13,376 bringing the total of licensed drivers up to 89,429.

During the year 25,875 provisional (Learner) driving licences were issued and 21,285 driving tests were conducted.

Immigration. The Commissioner of Police is concurrently the Immigration Officer for the Colony. All persons entering Hong Kong, other than Cantonese from the province of Kwangtung, must be in possession of valid travel documents. In addition, aliens, with the exception of those passing through Hong Kong on ships or aircraft, are required to have visas. The entry of Cantonese from Kwangtung province is controlled by a quota system whereby the numbers permitted to enter Hong Kong are governed by the numbers who go out. Local residents wishing to visit China may ensure that they can return outside the quota by obtaining a re-entry permit before they leave. This permit, former- ly valid for any number of journeys within six months, has now