Buckle up: Passengers must wear seatbelts on buses and minibuses starting Jan 25

While Hong Kong is set to mandate seat belts for all passengers on buses and minibuses from January 25,  some industry representatives warn that compliance may rely heavily on the self-discipline of passengers.

According to the Transport Department, all public transport and commercial vehicles must be equipped with seat belts for every passenger seat.

Under the new regulations, passengers who fail to buckle up could face maximum fines of up to HK$5,000 and three months' imprisonment.

Emphasizing that it is the responsibility of all passengers to wear seat belts, the department noted it will enhance collaboration with the police and relevant authorities to ramp up promotional efforts aimed at raising awareness of the new regulations.

In response, the city's franchised bus operators confirmed that all newly procured buses have been outfitted with seat belts on every seat since July 2018. 

Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) and Long Win Bus reported that over 2,500 buses—representing 60 percent of their total fleet—have been fully or partially fitted with seat belts. Citybus also confirmed that more than 780 buses have been fully equipped with seat belts.

However, Matthew Wong Leung-pak, chairman of Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited, highlighted practical challenges regarding enforcement. 

With approximately 40 to 50 passengers on a bus, Wong raised concerns about the driver's ability to ensure that everyone is wearing a seatbelt.

"Even if passengers initially fasten their belts, they might unfasten them during the journey, which relies heavily on passenger self-discipline,” he said.