LCQ9: Bicycle management measures
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Question:
There are views that the lack of effective management on bicycles in public places has been a long-standing issue in Hong Kong. For example, quite a number of bicycles are found stacked up and abandoned in public housing estates for a prolonged period, and there are thefts of bicycles or their parts and components from time to time. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number and detection rate of bicycle-related thefts in the past five years, with a tabulated breakdown by District Council district;
(2) whether it has formulated policies or measures to combat bicycle-related thefts; if so, whether an assessment of their effectiveness has been conducted; and
(3) whether it will examine the bicycle management issue and step up law enforcement actions with a view to combating bicycle-related thefts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has all along been concerned about bicycle thefts and illegal parking or abandonment of bicycles. In consultation with the Security Bureau, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Transport Department (TD), my reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Chan Yuet-ming is as follows:
(1) The number of bicycle theft cases by Police district and the overall detection rate of such cases across the territory from 2018 to 2022 are tabulated in Annex. The Government does not maintain a breakdown of statistics by District Council district.
(2) and (3) Regarding bicycle thefts, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) closely monitors the situation of such cases and combats related offences on all fronts. Apart from stepping up patrols at relevant black spots, the Police also actively conducts investigations and takes intelligence-led enforcement actions. For example, online platforms for resale of bicycles are monitored to identify if there are pretended second-hand bicycles sellers who sell stolen bicycles on such platforms for profit and follow-up actions are taken as appropriate. The Police also reminds the public to refrain from buying bicycles of unknown sources to avoid inadvertent breaches of the law. Moreover, the Police conducts publicity campaigns for the prevention of bicycle thefts from time to time to remind members of the public to park their bicycles in legal parking places for bicycles, and secure the wheels of their bicycles to the fixtures in parking places with strong locks. They are also advised not to park their bicycles on the streets or in dark places with a low passenger flow lest thieves take advantage of it.
As for illegal parking or abandonment of bicycles, pursuant to the Road Traffic (Parking) Regulations (Cap. 374C), no person shall park a vehicle (including a bicycle) in non-designated parking places on the street; nor shall he or she park a vehicle in a parking place for a continuous period of more than 24 hours. In addition, the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28) prohibits unlawful occupation of unleased Government land, and the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228) prohibits people from leaving any article that may obstruct, inconvenience or endanger any person or vehicle in a public place. Currently, joint operations to clear illegally parked or abandoned bicycles are conducted from time to time by District Offices under the Home Affairs Department, the Lands Department, the TD, the HKPF as well as the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department having regard to the actual circumstances. Relevant departments will continue to monitor the situation in each district and review the arrangements in a timely manner.
Ends/Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:30
Issued at HKT 11:30
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