The driver, a 51-year-old man surnamed Tsang, was arrested for dangerous driving causing death. Police sources said he passed an alcohol breath test. He was released on HK$5,000 bail and is to report back on November 3.

Police said they were investigating whether the truck sounded an alarm as it reversed.

A resident who gave her name as Ms Law said the narrow cul-de-sac was dangerous because it was near a small park frequented by children and elderly people.

'I heard the woman scream and then I saw the driver get out of the truck. I was scared and I ran away,' Ms Law said.

Victor Yeung Sui-yin, a member of the Central and Western District Council and chairman of its traffic and transport committee, said he had met Transport Department officials last month to discuss accidents involving reversing trucks and proposed installing CCTV cameras on trucks.

'They were very cool to that suggestion,' he said. 'The representatives said that because the number of incidents was small compared to the total traffic incidents in Hong Kong, it was not worth making such legislation.'

Last month, two accidents involving reversing trucks claimed the lives of three people, including an 11-month-old baby and her father.

Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, chairwoman of the Transport Advisory Committee, which advises the government on transport issues, said educating drivers may be more effective than legislation.

'Safety is our main concern,' she said. 'To install CCTVs would require legislation rather than recommendations. That is something that would have to be thought through very carefully to see whether there is a need for it.'

From January to August this year there were 307 accidents related to reversing, 3.2 per cent of all accidents.

A Transport Department spokesman said there has not been an apparent increase in traffic accidents involving reversing vehicles.

'The situation is not exceptionally serious,' he said, adding the department would launch a series of promotional activities on road safety in the short term and review whether there was a need to tighten legislation on reversing devices.

Democratic Party legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo demanded that the chief executive add vehicle safety to his policy address speech next week. He wants a truck assistant or another person to act as a look-out for drivers to ensure they reverse safely.

Anyone who has information on the accident should call police on 3106 8800 or 3106 8849.