The new bus seat belt regulation, which came into effect on Jan. 25, has sparked widespread public debate in Hong Kong. At 4:15 p.m. today (Jan. 30), Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mable Chan, addressed the media at the Legislative Council (LegCo) to provide an update on the matter.
Chan pointed out that, following public concerns and legal advice from the Department of Justice, certain technical deficiencies were identified in the amended Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) Regulations.
These deficiencies, she said, prevent the law from fully reflecting its original legislative intent. To ensure clarity, the government will promptly remove the relevant provisions, meaning that passengers will not currently face a statutory requirement to wear seat belts on franchised or non-franchised buses.
Chan emphasized that the government will refine the legal text before consulting the LegCo again and reintroducing the seat belt requirement.
She also noted that over the past few days, the government has received extensive feedback from the public, media, and legislators regarding the law's implementation. She reiterated that the regulation's primary purpose is to offer enhanced safety protections for passengers.
Moving forward, the government will focus on public education and awareness campaigns, encouraging passengers to develop the habit of wearing seat belts voluntarily while using public transport.
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