Amendment regulations in relation to road traffic gazetted

Multiple road traffic regulations were gazetted on Friday, aiming to align with international vehicle standards, technological advancements, and the specific road conditions of Hong Kong to enhance road safety and facilitate the adoption of new vehicle technology.

The amendment regulations will be presented for negative vetting at the Legislative Council (LegCo) on December 18 (Wed).

A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau expressed that the amendments are designed to create a safer and more convenient road environment for users in Hong Kong by optimizing vehicle design and construction standards.

The proposals include eight key changes, mandating electric vehicles to be equipped with an acoustic vehicle alerting system, requiring vehicles with extendable aerial structures to have an over-height warning system, mandating child restraining devices in private cars for child passengers, enabling the use of remote control parking functions by drivers, and relaxing restrictions on information displayed on a visual display unit when the vehicle is parked, among others.

"The government will persistently review technological advancements and vehicle operational requirements, updating the regulations in a timely manner to keep pace with evolving vehicle technology and the latest international standards, thereby flexibly adapting to industry developments," the spokesperson added.

In formulating the amendment regulations, the government considered views from various stakeholders, including the LegCo Panel on Transport, the Transport Advisory Committee, and industry representatives. The regulatory details and effective dates are specified in the respective amendment regulations, with relevant information detailed in the LegCo Brief issued by the government on December 11 (Wed).