Hong Kong bus operator reports suspected seatbelt tampering to police after passenger trapped for 45 minutes

2026-01-30 - 04:27

Hong Kong bus operator Citybus has filed a police report after it found a piece of aluminium foil stuffed inside a seatbelt buckle, which reportedly left a passenger trapped for over 45 minutes. A Citybus double-decker. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, via Patrickcheung10. Citybus said in a statement on Thursday that the driver of a bus travelling along route 795X in the direction of So Uk near Sham Shui Po was informed at around 10am that a passenger was unable to unbuckle his seatbelt. The bus driver alerted the command centre, and firefighters were called to the scene. “After further inspection of the seatbelt, it was found that the buckle was obstructed by a piece of aluminium foil,” Citybus said, adding it suspected that the seatbelt had been intentionally damaged. The Fire Services Department told HKFP it received a report at 11.27am on Thursday about a passenger who was unable to unbuckle his seat belt on a bus seat near Cheung Sha Wan. Three firetrucks, one ambulance, an ambulance motorcycle, and 20 personnel were deployed to the scene. The passenger was freed and sent to Caritas Medical Centre. Police said it had received the bus company’s report. Bus passengers wearing seatbelts, on January 28, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The incident came as a controversial law requiring bus passengers to fasten their seatbelts stirred confusion and dissatisfaction among the public. Passengers who breach the law, which came into effect on Sunday, risk a maximum fine of HK$5,000 and up to three months in jail. Speaking to a TVB news programme, the trapped passenger, surnamed Chan, said he was stranded in his seat for over 45 minutes and that at least a dozen firefighters were dispatched to help him. Asked about the new seatbelt regulation, Chan said authorities had not considered the inconvenience that it might cause to commuters. Transport chief Mable Chan has said the government will focus on public education rather than harsh law enforcement during the initial stages of the new regulation. A balance between “empathy, reason, and law” will be struck, Chan said. She added that the purpose of the new legislation was to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent injuries in serious traffic accidents involving buses.