Study Buddy (Explorer): Car passengers aged under 8 years must use safety seats in Hong Kong

South China Morning Post

16-03-2025

Content provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] Children aged under eight years in Hong Kong will need to use safety seats or similar equipment when travelling in private cars starting November 1, 2025. A fixed HK$230 (US$29.60) fine will be issued to drivers caught breaking the new requirement. Serious cases will be referred to a court, where a penalty of up to HK$2,000 (US$257.22) could be imposed, the Transport Department said last month.
[2] 'The new requirement aims to enhance protection for children and passenger safety,' a department spokesman said. 'Child restraining devices provide effective protection for child passengers in traffic accidents, and they can substantially reduce the risks of being seriously injured or killed.'
[3] The rule will apply regardless of whether a child sits in a vehicle's front or back passenger seats. Children with a height of 1.35 metres or above and those aged eight and over will be exempt from the rule.
[4] The department listed child safety seats, seat belt adjusters, wearable safety restraint vests and foldable boosters as suitable restraining devices under the coming requirement. Drivers could be exempt from the requirement in the event of an emergency where they do not have time to set up a safety device for the child.
[5] The department urged parents, guardians or private car drivers to only buy devices that suited a child's age and body. It will also offer suggestions on selecting and using such devices. The department also promised to work alongside police and the Road Safety Council to step up publicity and education efforts to ensure motorists are informed about the new requirements.
[6] Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told lawmakers that authorities would provide clear guidance on the new regulations and launch promotion efforts in the next few months to help prepare drivers. The government is still working to determine whether these safety devices were needed on public transport, she said. Chan added that authorities would update seat belt standards and introduce the relevant legal amendments in the current legislative session.
[7] A Legco research paper from 2021 found that private cars had consistently been the largest source of child passenger injuries a decade earlier. They accounted for 32 per cent of such incidents, way above the proportion linked to school and public buses, 21 per cent each, and taxis, which accounted for 12 per cent.
[8] 'The number of child passengers aged below 12 in private cars suffering injuries in traffic accidents averaged at 162 annually over the past decade, in spite of a noticeable drop amid the pandemic in 2020,' the research paper said.
Source: South China Morning Post, February 24
Questions
1. What is the 'new requirement' in paragraph 1?
2. Paragraph 2 discusses the … of child restraining devices.
A. convenience
B. effectiveness
C. affordability
D. none of the above
3. Decide whether the following statements according to paragraph 3 are True, False or the information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) All safety seats need to have at least two belts.
(ii) Children taller than 1.35 metres do not need a safety seat.
(iii) A child who is nine years old does not need a safety seat.
(iv) Children only need a safety seat in the back of a car.
4. Find a word in paragraphs 3 and 4 that means 'someone does not have to do something'.
5. According to paragraph 5, what will the Transport Department offer drivers besides information about the new rules?
6. According to paragraph 5, is it OK to buy any child car safety device? Why or why not?
7. What is the Transport Department still trying to decide, according to paragraph 6?
8. According to paragraph 7, … caused the most injuries to child passengers 10 years ago.
A. taxis
B. public buses
C. school buses
D. private cars
9. Paragraph 8 describes …
A. car accidents involving adults.
B. new traffic rules for children.
C. child passenger injuries in car accidents.
D. car accidents involving new cars.
Child car seats and other safety devices protect young passengers, reducing the risk of injury. Photo: Shutterstock
Answers
1. Children under eight will need to use safety seats or similar equipment while travelling in private cars in Hong Kong.
2. B
3. (i) NG; (ii) T; (iii) T; (iv) F
4. exempt
5. The department will offer suggestions on selecting and using safety devices.
6. No, because drivers should only buy safety devices that suit the child's age and body.
7. if safety devices for children are needed on public transport
8. D
9. C