BREAKING: Hong Kong gov’t to repeal controversial bus seat belt law

2026-01-30 - 09:18

The Hong Kong transport chief has announced that a controversial law requiring bus passengers to fasten their seat belts will be “repealed as soon as possible” due to a “technical shortcoming” in the provision. A bus passenger wearing a seat belt on January 28, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said at a press conference on Friday that the current provision – which came into effect on Sunday – could not adequately reflect the legislative intent of mandating that passengers fasten their seat belts on all types of vehicles. “We will arrange for the relevant provision to be repealed as soon as possible. In other words, we will not have legislation mandating passengers to wear seat belts” on buses, Chan said in Cantonese. “We will revamp the relevant provision and consult with the Legislative Council before introducing it again,” she added, without providing a timetable for the process.