I am writing to protest against the draconian law recently imposed in Hong Kong to force car passengers to wear seatbelts.
Passengers, irrespective of their age, who fail to comply with the new law are liable to a fine of $5,000 and three months' imprisonment. I am shocked a prison term is used for an offence which can hardly be called a crime at all.
It is cruel and unjustified for a judge to sentence an adult passenger, or worse still a minor passenger, to prison for not wearing a seatbelt. Such an act violates the basic human right of people to be free from cruel and unjustified punishment.
In case of very young passengers not wearing seatbelts, common sense tells us it should be the driver and/or the supervisor of the minors in the vehicles who are punished. What if a 10-year-old unfastens the seatbelt when his father is not looking.
I find it hypocritical for the Government to say 'it's for your own safety' to justify imprisonment. Cigarette smoking causes more deaths but the Government has never used imprisonment as a deterrent.
Adult passengers who fail to wear seatbelts and adult persons responsible for minor passengers who fail to wear seatbelts should be fined.
