Undercover officers posed as passengers, then ticketed those not wearing seatbelts

Passengers were caught in the crossfire of a spat between rival minibus routes in Yuen Long last week, after undercover police, acting on complaints, infiltrated the routes and ticketed 23 passengers for not wearing seatbelts.

Passengers who fail to wear seatbelts on minibuses are liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and 3 months’ imprisonment.

Police stop a driver as part of a five-day operation against red minibuses along a Yuen Long route

Police said the “passenger safety” operation ran for five days, and that one bus route was found operating a route not approved by Transport Department (TD). Six drivers were also ticketed for unloading in restricted areas or ignoring traffic signs.

But a company serving a Long Ping Light Rail to Pak Sha Village route says the undercover raid is just one instance of harassment and claims it is being unfairly targeted by authorities.

The firm says another route driver had spread rumours that the company is unlicensed, while the owner also received letters from TD in the last week ordering it to stop “occupying a parking bay while waiting for passengers” and to remove a bus stop sign it had placed near a parking bay within 14 days.

In response, the firm shared video of one of its rivals careering through a pedestrian crossing on a red light. That firm could not be reached for comment.

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