Hong Kong police were urged Wednesday to keep up their efforts to prevent road accidents despite the fact that the number of fatal and serious traffic accidents last year hit years low.
Reviewing the traffic accident situation of 2000 at a press conference, Chief Superintendent of Traffic Headquarters Tang How-kong said the number of fatal traffic accidents in Hong Kong dropped 21.8 percent to 158 from 202 in 1999.
The number of traffic accidents with serious injuries in Hong Kong was also contained at a low level at 2,807, the lowest since 1966, according to Tang.
"Despite the fall, our devotion to promote road safety and further lower road accidents and casualties will remain unchanged." Tang said.
Last year, 14,865 traffic accidents were recorded in Hong Kong, representing a slight increase of one percent from 14,714 cases in 1999. This reflects a continued need to remain vigilant by all parties concerned including drivers, pedestrians and passengers.
Of the 169 people killed in the 158 fatal traffic accidents, 55.6 percent or 94 were pedestrians, indicating that they are most vulnerable to accidental deaths on the road. Drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and passengers accounted for the remaining fatalities.
(Xinhua 02/14/2001)
