Stubborn as an ox over LNY illegal parking

Michael Shum

Unlike in previous lunar new year holiday periods there will be no mercy for people parking illegally with the arrival of the Ox.

So what's gone before will not count for anything, Commissioner for Transport Rosanna Law Shuk-pui declared, and wayward parkers can expect to see traffic wardens have headed their way to hand out fixed penalty tickets of HK$320.

"The illegal parking situation has been getting worse recently," Law added on a radio program yesterday.

"I believe it's due to the increase in people driving amid the pandemic and citizens being less conscientious in abiding by the law. So the government will continue combating illegal parking during the Lunar New Year."

Hours later, the police expanded on Law's warning by stating that officers will "focus on issuing fines for illegal parking in residential areas around Central, and vehicles that are causing serious obstruction or imminent danger to traffic nearby will be towed away to ensure road safety and a smooth flow of traffic."

Law also said that because many festivities have been cancelled due to Covid-19 she expects less traffic than last year.

"As we are aware more citizens are choosing to hike and picnic due to the Covid-19 outbreak we will pay special attention to traffic leading to popular sites and will ask public transport operators to make special arrangements to services when needed," she said.

Ben Chan Han-pan, vice chairman of the Legislative Council's transport panel, said authorities should show some regard for citizens.

"During the pandemic it's understandable that citizens opt to drive instead of taking public transport," he said. "There's no need for the government to suppress the use of private vehicles.

"The government should use ticketing for illegal parking to ensure there are no obstructions instead of showing its authority by enforcing the law strictly."

For example, Chan said, authorities can be more lenient when vehicles are parked in relatively secluded places if they are not obstructing traffic and there is insufficient parking space in the vicinity, especially for trucks and coaches.

He added: "It's an unwritten rule that the government does not fine illegal parkers as people believe that being fined at the start of a lunar year means bad luck for the year to come."

But as the warning of ticketing had now been delivered, Chan said, "I'd like to remind citizens not to park their vehicles illegally on the streets."

Joey, a long-time motorist who explained he always visits relatives during the holiday, said he will still park his car on the street instead of in car parks.

"It's Lunar New Year," he snapped. "I'm not going to waste my time queuing at car parks as they will most probably be full. Anyway, there are no car parks close to where I am going to visit."

Law also told radio listeners that government authorities will not allow media people to run searches on car ownership through the Transport Department's registry.

And people who do go searching should determine whether the information they gather will be used legally.

This follows on from RTHK producer Bao Choy Yuk-ling being charged with making false declarations under the Road Traffic Ordinance while in the process of searching vehicle registration details for an episode of the Hong Kong Connection that covered the Yuen Long mob attack at the MTR station in July 2019.

The incident caused an outcry by media unions and demands for the SAR government to uphold press freedom, respect the rights of reporters and protect the public's right to know.