Lai SeeHigher illegal parking fines are only effective if they are applied

Great minds think alike. We have been urging that fines for illegal parking be raised as the current level of HK$320 is evidently not much of a deterrent. The police now seem to think this is a good idea. Their reasoning is that the number of tickets for this offence has increased by 13 per cent over the past 10 months.

It is unclear whether the problem is getting worse or whether the police have been 13 per cent more productive in this respect. Whether the increase in the fine has much effect on the problem is a moot point. Many will be deterred by the prospect of having to pay HK$820. But for the seven-seater brigade, HK$820 may be of no concern.

The big problem has always been that the police and the traffic wardens do not ticket offenders. Drivers wait illegally outside buildings while their masters and mistresses attend to their business. If the police turn up, and it is a big if, they generally tell them to move off without ticketing them. It is generally vehicles with nobody inside that get ticketed.

If the increased fine is to be effective, it has to be applied. So we are not expecting illegal parking to disappear until the police take a tougher line.

Jubilation at Citi yesterday when it was declared Asia's best bank in FinanceAsia's Achievement Awards 2013. The award is for excellence across investment banking, consumer and commercial banking. HSBC was the best commercial bank, while UBS was the best investment bank and best private bank.