Police are planning a Christmas drink-driving blitz.
The plans come in the wake of figures showing that of the 1,597 positive breath tests since December, 1995 - when the current drink-driving laws were enacted - 933 were conducted this year.
Chief Inspector John Lau To-sang of the Police Traffic Branch said: 'This is higher than we expected and we will be particularly vigilant over the Christmas and New Year periods.
'We are buying 90 more breathalyser kits which will mean every traffic officer will be capable of taking tests. They will be instructed to breathalyse anyone who they suspect may be over the limit or who has committed a traffic violation.' By the end of the year, more than 30,000 people will have been breathalysed under the current laws.
The 1,597 positive tests have led to 902 convictions. The maximum penalty is three years' jail and a $25,000 fine. This year, 16,865 tests have been conducted.
The figures could give impetus to moves for the lowering of the blood-alcohol limit from 0.08 milligrams of alcohol per litre of blood to 0.05.
