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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at a stand-up session after attending the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link this afternoon (January 29):
Reporter: (drug driving)
Secretary for Transport and Housing: We are now looking at the examples, Australia and the United Kingdom. Firstly, they have certain screening arrangements. For the United Kingdom, they have screening measures looking at the drivers' behaviour to see whether they are under the influence of drugs. In Australia, they have screening tests involving collection of saliva and then conducting the test. These are the first screening steps, leading to sufficient ground for the police to request for other tests, including blood tests for these suspected drivers. We are now looking at which of these methods are most suitable for the conditions of Hong Kong.
There are other arrangements that we need to look at, for example, what powers are required by the police to obtain the evidence that is sufficient enough for them to do the enforcement. There is also the need to look at the penalties to see whether they should be enhanced to achieve the deterrent effect. So right now, we are looking at all these examples elsewhere including all the issues that I have just described. Our aim is to have preliminary proposals in around summer time so that we can conduct the necessary consultation in order to draw up the steps ahead.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Friday, January 29, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:19
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