The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, speaks to reporters.
The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, said today the police would take enforcement action with greater consideration for the motoring public; while still fulfilling their legal responsibilities in this regard.
Such consideration would apply in particular to parking matters affected by the recent update of Transport Bureau service charges, Mr Wong told reporters this morning.
Police enforcement action on parking – in the first five days after the implementation of the updated service charges – was focused on vehicles parked improperly – or without authorisation – in public parking spaces for a long period of time, or those vehicles that appeared to be abandoned or damaged.
The updated price list for Transport Bureau services, and the increases in charges for removing and storing vehicles improperly parked in public parking spaces have been in place since 1 January 2017.
Mr Wong stated that enforcing the law was a prime duty of the police: police officers would strengthen the effort further to enhance police-community relations, and consistently regarded this as a priority.
Regarding some community concerns that police-community relations might be adversely affected by the updates of Transport Bureau service charges, Mr Wong said the public security authorities would – as always – pay close attention to public opinion regarding enforcement action by the police. The security authorities had been closely following the principle of “putting people first”; introducing a modern policing model, i.e. proactive policing, community policing, and proximity policing.
Mr Wong also commented on whether police officers had the power to prevent rooftop restaurants exceeding the legal noise limits in the city – the sort of noise occurring at New Year’s eve celebration events. Mr Wong said police activity had to be in accordance with the law: police officers could only take action where the law bestowed them with the necessary powers.
The police, nonetheless, had advised the restaurant concerned to stop making noise of a level that would be in violation of local regulations; and had referred the case to related departments for their follow-up.
In addition, should the community reach consensus regarding revising related laws – that might allow the police new powers of enforcement in such matters – the security authorities would offer a view on the topic, said Mr Wong.