Society

Passengers and drivers are concerned about the fairness and effectiveness of the seatbelt amendment that officially took effect on Jan. 25. All passengers on public transport and drivers who fail to wear seatbelts without a reasonable excuse are now liable to a maximum fine of HK$5,000 and up to 3 months’ imprisonment, according to the new amendment. “I think there is enough publicity for this new rule. I’ve been seeing the government’s promotion on TV since December,” said Ng Siu-leung, 58, a passenger at Sha Tin bus terminus.  Another passenger, Wong Tsui-yim, 90, said she was aware of the new rule after seeing the news on TV, and her elderly friends would remind one another of the new seatbelt rules via WhatsApp groups. Despite the notice signs, Zhang Lan, a mainland Chinese tourist who had just arrived in Hong Kong for a vacation, said she had heard nothing about the amendment of the new rules. “I don’t think they are talking about it enough,” said Noa Navet, 19, a French woman living in Hong Kong.  Although the new seatbelt rule can better protect passenger safety, the government should promote the new rules for younger people and foreigners via social media, she added. The new amendment also states that drivers will receive an HK$2,000 fine if they have more than two technology devices placed in front of them while driving. Local resident Chan Chung-kei, 31, said it is unfair to have a higher penalty for passengers not wearing seatbelts compared to drivers who look at their digital devices while driving.   “It is the driver's responsibility to ensure the passengers’ safety, but why should inattentive drivers be fined less than passengers without seatbelts?” she said. Kong Pak-tung, 24, a Kowloon bus driver of route 289R, said he saw some passengers who didn’t …

When K-pop boy group Seventeen announced it was holding two concerts in Hong Kong in September, devoted fan Tsai Oi-wai, 20, knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t miss. But by the time she was online, tickets were sold out. Tsai scrolled endlessly on Instagram until she came across a second-hand ticket reseller who seemed trustworthy. “I even checked his profile, which had photos of everyday life—scenery, food, and other pictures—so I didn’t suspect anything,” Tsai said. Tsai’s ideal seat was priced at HK$2,099 on the official website, and the seller asked for HK$2,599. “I think the price was still within a reasonable range, so I transferred the money to him without further hesitation,” she said. The entire conversation and transaction took place over WhatsApp.  “The seller told me that all payments and refunds had to go through a third-party partner company, which required additional verification procedures,” she added. “The scammer then asked me to enter a verification code, and I did so,” said Tsai.  “Ever since then, I’ve never heard from that person again, nor any updates about my ticket.” She was scammed out of HK$42,034. Tsai’s experience is far from unique. According to the Hong Kong Police, fraud cases have surged dramatically, rising from 15,553 cases in 2020 to 444,480 in 2024, representing an increase of nearly thirtyfold, with the upward trend continuing in the first half of 2025. Students are easy targets for scammers. As of September, university students have reported 1,711 scam cases with total losses of HK$180 million, according to the Hong Kong police’s Anti-Deception Coordination Centre. Phone scams accounted for HK$16 million in losses among local students, while mainland students suffered significantly higher losses at HK$87 million. “Students are an ideal target for scammers, as their limited life experience and lack of familiarity with …