./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/HKG/9
17 December 2001
(01-6362)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   HONG KONG, CHINA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Transport Department, Government of HKSAR
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Motor vehicles (public
light buses only) under HS:8702 for first registration in Hong Kong since mid 2003.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   A proposal on
extension of seat belt legislation to rear seats of public light buses (26 pages, in English).
6. Description of content:   Hong Kong, China will extend the existing legislations to
incorporate requirements for high back seats and seat belts to public light buses (carry 16
passengers, excluding driver) with effect from mid 2003. Manufacturers, agents or
importers will need to comply with the standa rds for first registration in Hong Kong. The
proposed amendment of the Regulations mainly updates the old standards for seat belt
anchorage points for vehicles and introduces new standards for seats and head restraints.
The testing standards specified in the docu ment follow the European Communities Council
Directives, Regulations made by the Economic Commission for Europe, the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards of USA, Australian Design Rules and technical standards
published by Japan Automobile Standards Internationalization Center 2001.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
To extend the seat belt legislation to rear seats of public light buses and to introduce
miscellaneous improvements to the existing legislation with a view to enhancing road
safety.
8. Relevant documents:
(a) Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) Regulations (Cap.374 sub. leg. F) of Hong Kong
(b) Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374
sub. Leg. A) of Hong Kong
(c) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201, 202, 207 and 210 of USAG/TBT/N/HKG/9
Page 2
(d) ECE Regulation No. 14, 17, 21, 25 and 80 made by the Economic Commission for
Europe
(e) Directives 74/408/EEC, 76/115/EEC, 78 /932/EEC, 81/575/ EEC, 82/318/EEC,
90/629/EEC and 96/38/EC of the European Communities
(f) Australian Design Rule No. 5/04, 22/00 and 68/00
(g) TRIAS 31-1994, 32-1983, 35-1975, 36-1975 and 37-1987 by Japan Automobile
Standards Internationalization Center 2001
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Early 2002
Proposed date of entry into force:  Mid 2003          
10. Final date for comments:   20 February 2002
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [     ] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:
Road Safety and Standard Division
Transport Department
Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Room 3816, 38/F, 7 Gloucester RoadWanchai
Hong Kong
Tel.:  (852) 2294 2533
Fax:  (852) 2802 9595
E-mail:  lo_tonia_ly@td.gov.hk