Hong Kong to adjust seat belt rules for children under age 8 from Saturday

Children under the age of eight or shorter than 1.35 metres (4.43 feet) are required to use devices such as seat belt adjusters or child safety seats in private vehicles starting from Saturday, with serious violations potentially resulting in a HK$2,000 (US$257) fine.

The Transport Department said on Wednesday that the rules would apply regardless of which seat the passenger was sitting in, with anyone above the age and height thresholds expected to wear a suitable device or a seat belt for adults.

“There are similar regulations in Shanghai, Shenzhen, the EU, Japan and Singapore,” it said.

The department noted that in terms of traffic accidents where children under eight were injured or killed, the proportion of incidents involving private cars had gone from about 43 per cent in 2021 to around 60 per cent last year.

It added that research had shown that such safety devices could lower the risk of injury or death by 70 per cent in accidents when vehicles had head-on collisions.

The department shared other acceptable examples of what it called “child restraining devices”, including wearable safety restraint vests and foldable boosters.