Private car drivers urged to choose suitable Child Restraining Device under mandatory requirements
The Transport Department (TD) today (April 22) reminded parents, guardians or private car drivers to choose and use a suitable Child Restraining Device (CRD), such as a child safety seat, that is appropriate for children's body size and complies with relevant standards to reduce the risks of being killed or seriously injured in traffic accidents, thereby enhancing protection for children and passenger safety.
Starting from November 1, 2025, unless child passengers aged below 8 reach a body height of 1.35 metres, they must use a CRD in private cars, regardless of whether they are sitting in the front or rear seats. Passengers aged 8 or above, or those with a body height of at least 1.35m, must either use a CRD or wear an adult seat belt. Otherwise, the driver must not drive the car on any road.
A spokesman for the TD said, "When choosing a CRD, parents, guardians or private car drivers carrying a child passenger should accord top priority to the height and/or weight range for which the product is suitable. They should also look for any markings indicating compliance with national or international standards recognised. For enquiries, they should consult the manufacturer or retailer on the product standards to meet legal requirements."
Of note, after a collision such as a traffic accident, CRDs may show no visible signs of damage on the surface, but their internal structure may have been damaged, reducing their protective effectiveness, and they should not be used again. In addition, when purchasing second-hand CRDs, it is difficult to guarantee that the product has not been hit. For those used by relatives or friends, one should ascertain whether they have been dropped or bumped.
Apart from conventional types of child safety seats, there are various types of portable CRDs, such as seat belt adjusters, wearable safety restraint vests and foldable boosters, available in the market for selection. Yet, as portable CRDs do not have protective pads and seat backs on both sides, their protection capabilities in side-impact collisions are in general not as good as those of child safety seats.
The TD has launched a designated page on CRDs (www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/crd) coupled with infographics on the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk) to set out details of the legal requirements and standards concerned. The TD will continue to work with the Police, the Road Safety Council and the Consumer Council to step up relevant publicity and public education. Members of the public may call the TD's hotline (2804 2600) for details.
Private car drivers urged to choose suitable Child Restraining Device under mandatory requirements Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Appointment of non-official members to ICAC-related committees announced
The Government announced today (January 1) that the Chief Executive has made appointments and reappointments to the four Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) advisory committees, namely the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC), the Operations Review Committee (ORC), the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC) and the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR), and to the ICAC Complaints Committee (ICC). All of the appointments and reappointments are for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2026.
ACOC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan (in his capacity as the Chairman of the ORC), Professor Simon Ho Shun-man (in his capacity as the Chairman of the CACCR), Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau (in his capacity as the Chairman of the CPAC) and Mr Victor Lam Hoi-cheung as members of the ACOC. Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi and Mr David Liao Yi-chien have been newly appointed to the Committee as members.
Ms Huen is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of a bank. She is the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Banks. She is also a member of the Banking Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hospital Authority and the Human Resources Planning Commission.
Mr Liao is the Co-Chief Executive of a bank. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis and the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee.
The ACOC advises the Commissioner of the ICAC on any aspects of the problem of corruption in Hong Kong, and keeps the operational, staffing and administrative policies of the ICAC under review.
ORC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan as the Chairman of the ORC. Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan, Mr Felix Li Kwok-hing and Ms Vivien Lau Man-yee have been reappointed to the Committee as members. Ms Kuok Hui-kwong has been newly appointed to the Committee as a member.
Ms Kuok is the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of a hotel group. She is also a member of the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions and the Security and Guarding Services Industry Authority.
The ORC oversees all ICAC investigations and corruption complaints received to ensure that they are handled effectively and efficiently. It also examines circumstances where search warrants are authorised by the Commissioner, where persons have been put on bail for more than six months, and where investigations have been lasting for over a year or require substantial resources.
CPAC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau as the Chairman of the CPAC. Ms Carrie Lau Ka-wai and Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai have been reappointed to the Committee as members. Mr Donald Choi Wun-hing has been appointed as a new member of the Committee.
Mr Choi is the Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority. He is also a member of the Antiquities Advisory Board.
The CPAC receives and calls for reports from the ICAC about practices and procedures of government departments, public bodies and the private sector which may be conducive to corruption. It also advises the Commissioner on what areas should be examined and the degree of priority to be accorded to each.
CACCR
The Chief Executive has reappointed Professor Simon Ho Shun-man as the Chairman of the CACCR. Miss Pinky Lau Pik-yiu, Dr James Wong Kong-tin, Miss Jenny Yung Ching-yi and Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan have been reappointed as members of the CACCR. Dr Kalwan Kwan Ming-tak has been appointed as a new member of the Committee.
Dr Kwan is the Honorary Lecturer of the Department of Sociology of the University of Hong Kong.
The CACCR advises the Commissioner on appropriate measures to foster public support in combating corruption and to educate the public against the evils of corruption. It also monitors community response to the ICAC's work and public attitudes towards corruption in general.
ICC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Executive Council Member Dr Lam Ching-choi as the Chairman of the ICC. Legislative Council (LegCo) Member Miss Grace Chan man-yee and Mr Lau Chun-hung have been reappointed as members of the ICC. LegCo Members Mr Chan Hok-fung and Ms Judy Chan Kapui, and Ms Irene Chow Man-ling have been appointed as new members of the ICC.
Mr Chan works in the banking industry. He is also a Non-executive Director of the Urban Renewal Authority.
Ms Chan is a full-time LegCo Member. She is also a member of the Fisheries Development Loan Fund Advisory Committee and the Hong Kong Housing Authority.
Ms Chow is the Executive Director of an investment company. She is also a member of the Airport Authority and the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service.
The ICC monitors the handling of non-criminal complaints against the ICAC, reviews the ICAC procedures and practices which may lead to complaints, and makes recommendations when necessary.
The Government extends its sincere appreciation to all outgoing members whose terms of office expired after December 31, 2025. Their valuable contributions to the work of the respective committees are greatly appreciated.
The updated non-official membership lists of the four ICAC advisory committees and the ICC are in the Annex.
Source: AI-found images
