Call for timely info on fatal road crashes in mainland

Authorities are urged to make timely announcements of Hongkongers killed in car crashes outside the city after officials took a week to confirm four deaths and two injuries in two accidents involving self-guided tours in the mainland this month.

One of the fatal accidents was reported this week by the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau affairs office of the Fujian municipal government, which said it was aware that mainland officials had handled a traffic crash in Fuzhou city, Fujian, involving Hongkongers.

The mainland authorities did not disclose other details.

A SAR government spokesman, in reply to media inquiries, said the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong was notified earlier this month by Fuzhou authorities about the accident involving a private car driven by a Hong Kong resident.

The driver suffered minor injuries, he added, but four passengers - all Hong Kong residents - died.

The driver is under investigation by mainland authorities.

The Immigration Department learned about another fatal traffic accident in Shangri-La, Yunnan, early this month.

A private car driven by a mainland resident crashed, causing the death of two other mainlanders and injuring two Hong Kong residents.

One of the injured Hongkongers has been discharged from hospital, while the other remains in stable condition.

Officials of the trade office had rushed to Fuzhou and Yunnan to provide appropriate assistance to the Hongkongers and their families.

Speaking on radio yesterday, lawmaker Kingsley Wong Kwok of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions said the SAR government did not take the initiative to announce the accidents probably because the victims' families wanted to handle the matter in a low-key manner.

However, Wong said authorities should still make announcements of such accidents as they are related to the safety of Hongkongers, especially those who intend to drive in the mainland.

"I think authorities should announce these accidents which involve deaths and injuries as people have the right to know," Wong said.

"In the future, after the quota-free scheme for Hong Kong private cars traveling to Guangdong begins, more Hong Kong people will travel to the mainland in self-drive tours.

"So making timely announcements on such accidents and their cause can help Hongkongers to stay on guard when they travel to the mainland."

Wong reminded Hong Kong drivers that the road situation and traffic rules in the mainland are different from the SAR and even experienced drivers may not be able to handle traffic in the mainland.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com

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