Bad Hong Kong drivers, beware: 150,000 parking tickets issued in July, 15 per cent more than in June
Goal is to deter traffic flow obstructions and dangerous road activities, police say
Rule-breaking drivers in Hong Kong are feeling the heat as a police crackdown on illegal parking and road obstruction saw the number of fixed penalty tickets jump by 15 per cent in July over June.
Acting chief superintendent of police Yuen Chi-kin said about 150,000 tickets had been issued in July when a citywide operation against illegal parking was officially launched.
Last year about 1.6 million parking tickets were issued in Hong Kong compared with one million in 2014. And in the first half of this year, about 840,000 tickets were handed out, marking a 40 per cent year-on-year increase.
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Yuen warned that police would continue their clampdown, saying the operation was aimed at reducing road accidents. The number of traffic accidents in the first half of this year stood at 7,798, down 12 per cent on the same period last year, he said.
“Our goal is to deter illegal activities that obstruct traffic flow and endanger other road users,” he said.
On Wednesday traffic police were seen keeping up their efforts against offenders in North Point, especially on Java Road, one of the city’s black spots which is often occupied by tour buses. In just half an hour five penalty tickets were issued for illegally parked vehicles.
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North Point assistant division commander Chan Sin-nga said many tour buses stopped in Java Road to drop off and pick up tourists, causing severe congestion and posing risks to pedestrians. The road is a major thoroughfare in Eastern district and congestion can have a significant impact on the transport network on Hong Kong Island.
The force would work out more measures with the district council to facilitate parking in the district, Chan said. These might include arranging additional parking spaces for commercial vehicles.
