9 motorists caught by same laser as tycoon

Nine other vehicles were caught speeding on the same day by the laser gun that captured tycoon Peter Lam Kin-ngok's Ferrari driving past, police said yesterday.

All nine motorists had paid their fines, but they would be allowed to request a review of their cases, police said after the speeding charge against Mr Lam was recently reduced.

The drivers were recorded by the same laser gun that clocked the tycoon's car driving at up to 114km/h in a 50km/h zone on Lantau on April 5.

They were issued fixed-penalty tickets for speeding, police said.

'They subsequently discharged their legal liability by settling the fixed penalty and did not dispute the allegation,' a police spokesman said. 'However, the individual drivers are at liberty to address the police on the issue should they wish to.'

The payments were apparently made before the speeding charge against the Lai Sun Development chairman was reduced below a level that would have cost him his licence.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology physics professor Tam Wing-yin would be invited to take part in a review of the use of the laser guns, police said. Professor Tam advises police on the guns, which assess vehicle speeds, and has been testing them for nine years.

On Friday, 35 calls were made to a police hotline (2860 6349) set up for people who felt aggrieved by tickets they had received.