Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kin-por and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (September 25):

Question:

     Under the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G), a driver shall ensure that any load is properly secured to or contained on the vehicle and that its weight and the manner in which it is placed shall not cause danger to any person. However, it has been reported that construction materials or rubble carried by goods vehicles fall onto the ground from time to time, causing accidents where the windshields of moving vehicles are hit by the rubble stirred up, endangering the safety of road users. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of enforcement actions taken by the Government under Cap. 374G against breaches of the provisions governing use of vehicles for carriage of loads, and the number of prosecutions instituted, in each of the past three years;

(2) as some members of the insurance industry have relayed that there are a relatively large number of windshield damage claims involving vehicles passing through the Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok Link, Tolo Highway, and Yuen Long Highway, whether the authorities will consider requiring contractors to increase the frequency of cleaning on these three roads to ensure that rubble or obstacles on the ground are cleared expeditiously, thereby reducing the chances of vehicle damage; and

(3) whether it will arrange for relevant government departments, such as the Hong Kong Police Force, Highways Department, and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, to carry out joint operations to step up efforts in combating illegal acts such as falling and scattering of objects from vehicles on the ground, as well as overloading of loads; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Government all along attaches great importance to road safety and the road safety issues caused by moving vehicles with loads which are not properly contained or secured. Having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Highways Department (HyD) and the Transport Department (TD), my response to the question raised by the Hon Chan Kin-por is as follows:

(1) Under the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G), the driver shall ensure that any load is properly secured to or contained inside the vehicle and that its weight and manner in which it is placed in the vehicle shall not cause danger to any person. Any driver who contravenes the relevant regulation is liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for three months on first conviction; and to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for six months on second or subsequent convictions. The HKPF is responsible for law enforcement on related contraventions.

     Moreover, according to the aforementioned regulations, as well as the Road Tunnels (Government) Regulations (Cap. 368A), the Tsing Ma Control Area (General) Regulation (Cap. 498B) and the Tsing Sha Control Area (General) Regulation (Cap. 594A), the TD takes enforcement actions against vehicles failing to properly secure their loads in the area of government tunnels, the Tsing Ma Control Area and the Tsing Sha Control Area. The requirements and penalties under these three pieces of subsidiary legislation are on par with those stipulated in the aforementioned Cap. 374G.

     In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the number of prosecutions for insecure loading was 844, 705 and 588 respectively.  

(2) Currently, the HyD engages contractors to carry out inspections and conduct road cleaning on expressways (including the Tolo Highway, Yuen Long Highway and Shun Long Road (i.e. the southern section of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link) referred to in the question) on a daily basis to minimise the risks posed by obstacles on road surface to road users.

     The contractors use specialised road sweepers equipped with suction or roller brushes to collect dust, gravel and other debris. In case obstacles or construction materials are found scattered on the road surface, the contractors will immediately deploy additional manpower and equipment to expedite the clearance process. In addition to regular review of contractors' work records, the HyD supervisory staff conduct frequent on-site inspections to assess cleaning effectiveness, including road surface cleanliness, residual sand and gravel, and road safety arrangements. The HyD also establishes performance pledges for clearing obstacles on expressways to ensure prompt contractor response. Records indicate that all cases over the past three years have met this standard. The aforementioned mechanism, consisting of daily routine inspections and cleaning, and immediate clearance arrangements in response to actual situations, is effective in cleaning road surfaces and removing obstacles. The HyD will continue to closely monitor contractors' performance to enhance road surface cleanliness.

     Moreover, the TD engages operators to manage, operate, and maintain government tunnels. For road sections within tunnel areas, such as the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel (i.e. the northern section of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link), the operator removes obstacles from carriageways and sweeps road surfaces with mechanical street sweepers regularly, and also clears road obstacles or accumulated gravel during routine patrols or upon receiving reports. The operator has increased the frequency of road surface cleaning in the recent years. The TD will continue to closely monitor the contractor's performance to ensure road safety.

(3) The relevant government departments have expressed significant concern over insecure vehicle loads and overloading, and are actively collaborating and sharing information to improve the management of these issues. The HKPF has been paying particular attention to such violations, especially those involving various types of goods vehicles, and seeks to change irresponsible driving behaviour through publicity, education and enforcement, with a view to safeguarding the safety of road users. The HKPF also continuously monitors data on serious and fatal traffic accidents and conducts territory-wide enforcement operations in response to accident causes and emerging trends. These include the "Crackdown on Lorry Offences" operation conducted in September this year, with the aim of enhancing overall road safety.

     The TD has been conducting publicity and educational activities through various channels to enhance the goods vehicle trade's awareness of safe loading. For example, a Code of Practice for the Loading of Vehicles is compiled in accordance with the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), which provides guidelines covering various areas of safe loading, including the use of suitable vehicles for carrying loads, proper methods of placing loads inside vehicles, etc. The TD also issues the Goods Vehicle Trade Newsletter and holds regular meetings with the goods vehicle trade. Posters are affixed on traffic signal controllers to promote road safety and remind drivers to adopt appropriate measures to secure loads. The tunnel operators display messages on variable message signs to remind drivers to secure the loads properly.

     The TD and the HKPF will continue to collaborate proactively in exploring the application of new technologies to enhance enforcement efficiency and strengthen road safety. Recently, the HKPF conducted the first trial of drone-assisted traffic enforcement on non-urban road sections to combat dangerous driving. The HKPF will review the effectiveness of the trial and consider the feasibility of extending the initiative to other areas or offence types, including insecure vehicle loads and overloading. 
      
     The TD and the HKPF will continue to work with the Road Safety Council to conduct various publicity and educational programmes, such as publishing and distributing the Road Safety Bulletin, and disseminating information through social media platforms, to enhance road users' awareness of safety and safe loading. 

Ends/Thursday, September 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:25

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