1. Mr. R is a very rich man owning a large piece of land and several luxurious sport cars. Can he let his 10-year old son drive one of his sport cars on that piece of private land? Let’s assume further that that piece of land is completely barren and there is virtually no road at all. Can he argue that he has not done anything wrong on any road (irrespective of whether it is a private road) because there is no road?

1. Mr. R is a very rich man owning a large piece of land and several luxurious sport cars.  Can he let his 10-year old son drive one of his sport cars on that piece of private land?  Let’s assume further that that piece of land is completely barren and there is virtually no road at all.  Can he argue that he has not done anything wrong on any road (irrespective of whether it is a private road) because there is no road?

Sections 117 and 118 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap.374 of the Laws of Hong Kong) expressly stipulate that all major traffic offences shall apply to private roads as they apply to roads.  If Mr. R thinks he can do anything he wants with his sport cars on his private land (or private road), he is wrong.  Further, under section 2 of the same Ordinance, both “road” and “private road” are given such wide definitions that they include almost all kinds of places where a vehicle can be used.  As a matter of fact, definitions of both “road” and “private road” include “place”.  Therefore, the “no-road” argument cannot work.