Q1. What types of goods cannot be carried onto taxis?
Under Regulation 41 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D), the following goods cannot be carried onto taxis :-
- goods other than personal hand baggage, except in where goods carried for hire or reward in accordance with a goods permit issued under the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations ( 374E): see Regulation 41(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D). However, personal hand baggage (個人手提行李) includes wheelchairs, crutches or any other thing used as an aid to or means of mobility, carried by any passenger: Cap. 374D, see Regulations 41(1) and 41(3) of Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D);
- personal hand baggage which are of a dangerous or offensive nature or are not securely wrapped: see Regulation 41(2) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D).
Dangerous Goods are:
- Goods harmful to life or presenting a danger to property because they are: explosive, flammable, or volatile; toxic, poisonous, or corrosive substances; substances which become dangerous by interaction with water or air, substances liable to spontaneous combustion or of a readily combustible nature, radioactive material and to such substances to which it is applied by the Chief Executive in Council under certain regulations: Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Cap. 295) Section 3.
Meaning of “offensive”:
- “Offensive” is defined as that which offends against the standard of good taste or good manners which is a breach of the rules of courtesy, or runs contrary to commonly accepted social rules, and may well be ill-advised or hurtful. Whatever offends is rightly termed offensive.
Any person who without reasonable excuse contravenes Regulation 41 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $2,000.