Seat belt rules are key to safety: CE

January 27, 2026

Chief Executive John Lee:

Regarding seat belts, I understand the measure will require a change of behaviour. Passengers may feel inconvenienced at the beginning. However, this small change in behaviour can potentially reduce serious injuries by 70%, or deaths. The intent is to enhance safety protection for passengers. 

During the implementation process, the primary focus of the initial phase will be on public education, advice and changing habits. 

Meanwhile, the Transport & Logistics Bureau will require public transport operators to properly manage the cleanliness, functionality and regulatory compliance of seatbelt installations.

At the same time, the law allows for a reasonable excuse, such as emergency or sudden special need, and those people will be exempted from liability. The Government will handle each case based on balance in law, reason and compassion.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee said today the new seat belt mandate might cause inconvenience at first, but is essential to enhancing passenger safety.

Starting from January 25, all seated passengers on public transport and in commercial vehicles must now wear seat belts.

Outlining that the measure will require a change of behaviour, Mr Lee said that this small modification can potentially reduce serious injuries by 70%, and also reduce deaths.

He remarked that, when enforcing the new laws, the Government will handle each case based on "law, reason and compassion".

“The primary focus of the initial phase will be on public education, advice and changing habits," he said. “The law allows for a reasonable excuse, such as emergency or sudden special need, and those people will be exempted from liability.”

Mr Lee added that the Transport & Logistics Bureau will require public transport operators to properly manage the cleanliness, functionality and regulatory compliance of seat belt installations.