prοtests in Hong Kong over Chinese car access

Several hundred people marched in Hong Kong Sunday, opposing a controversial government scheme that allows mainland Chinese cars into the territory, further escalating tensions between the two sides.

About 300 protestors in the busy downtown area chanted slogans "(we) oppose mainland cars roaming in Hong Kong freely!'' and waved banners that read "No, no, no, mainland Chinese cars".

The first stage of the scheme, set to be implemented in phases starting next month, allows Hong Kong drivers to apply to take their vehicles to mainland China. The quota is set at 50 cars per day.

The government said it has yet to set the timetable for the second stage, which allows drivers from the Guangdong province in southern China to apply to drive in Hong Kong.

One participant on the march, Shirley Cheung, who has been driving for 20 years, told AFP: "I am strongly against the plan because Hong Kong drives on the left side of the road, mainland China on the right.''

"We have enough traffic accidents as it is, we don't want more!'' she said.

Read the rest here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/ar ... d=10785196
________________________________________________________________________________________

Hehehehe! Chinese drivers will probably not even notice that they are driving on the wrong side

I'm sure there's plenty of schadenfreude being felt in cities like Auckland, Sydney, Vancouver, Toronto, Monterey Park, etc. now that HKers are feeling over-run by PRC residents.

Bad idea - I say again, very bad idea!

In Britain Chinese drivers can drive for a year on a Commie driving licence - again, a very, very bad idea. Universally, they haven't got a clue about driving, road use, road safety, the give way rule or any form of highway code.

People are going to get killed in HK because of this decision.

custer wrote:Bad idea - I say again, very bad idea!

In Britain Chinese drivers can drive for a year on a Commie driving licence - again, a very, very bad idea. Universally, they haven't got a clue about driving, road use, road safety, the give way rule or any form of highway code.

People are going to get killed in HK because of this decision.

why do you think the central government approved this at the first place? pay back time. Locusts in cars!

GoingMad wrote:

custer wrote:Bad idea - I say again, very bad idea!

In Britain Chinese drivers can drive for a year on a Commie driving licence - again, a very, very bad idea. Universally, they haven't got a clue about driving, road use, road safety, the give way rule or any form of highway code.

People are going to get killed in HK because of this decision.

why do you think the central government approved this at the first place? pay back time. Locusts in cars!

1997 - that was their first mistake! Should have stuck with Her Majesty.

custer wrote:Bad idea - I say again, very bad idea!

In Britain Chinese drivers can drive for a year on a Commie driving licence - again, a very, very bad idea. Universally, they haven't got a clue about driving, road use, road safety, the give way rule or any form of highway code.

My wife recently got her licence in Canada after learning in China and driving there for many years. It was very interesting to see her drive. She could operate the car quite competently, but her instincts were all wrong from years of driving in China. For example, while driving on main roads, she would instinctively slow down at every intersection, including ones with minor roads from which traffic must stop to enter the main road, and must yield the right of way to main road traffic.

She was afraid someone would accelerate out into the main road flow without warning - common in China. It took her a long time to learn to drive on the main road without slowing down at every intersection. That is only one of many habits learned for self-preservation in China that makes China-trained drivers a menace on the roads in many western countries. And my wife drove in Europe for 6 years - imagine what it's like for someone who has never lived and driven outside China.

rickettyrabbit wrote:

custer wrote:Bad idea - I say again, very bad idea!

In Britain Chinese drivers can drive for a year on a Commie driving licence - again, a very, very bad idea. Universally, they haven't got a clue about driving, road use, road safety, the give way rule or any form of highway code.

My wife recently got her licence in Canada after learning in China and driving there for many years. It was very interesting to see her drive. She could operate the car quite competently, but her instincts were all wrong from years of driving in China. For example, while driving on main roads, she would instinctively slow down at every intersection, including ones with minor roads from which traffic must stop to enter the main road, and must yield the right of way to main road traffic.

She was afraid someone would accelerate out into the main road flow without warning - common in China. It took her a long time to learn to drive on the main road without slowing down at every intersection. That is only one of many habits learned for self-preservation in China that makes China-trained drivers a menace on the roads in many western countries. And my wife drove in Europe for 6 years - imagine what it's like for someone who has never lived and driven outside China.

At least she didn't sound the horn at every car, motorcycle, bike or pedestrian along the way.

rickettyrabbit wrote:

custer wrote:Bad idea - I say again, very bad idea!

In Britain Chinese drivers can drive for a year on a Commie driving licence - again, a very, very bad idea. Universally, they haven't got a clue about driving, road use, road safety, the give way rule or any form of highway code.

My wife recently got her licence in Canada after learning in China and driving there for many years. It was very interesting to see her drive. She could operate the car quite competently, but her instincts were all wrong from years of driving in China. For example, while driving on main roads, she would instinctively slow down at every intersection, including ones with minor roads from which traffic must stop to enter the main road, and must yield the right of way to main road traffic.

She was afraid someone would accelerate out into the main road flow without warning - common in China. It took her a long time to learn to drive on the main road without slowing down at every intersection. That is only one of many habits learned for self-preservation in China that makes China-trained drivers a menace on the roads in many western countries. And my wife drove in Europe for 6 years - imagine what it's like for someone who has never lived and driven outside China.

My wife also drove in the UK for a year, and it was deeply unsettling. She would drive too slowly or too fast for the road conditions, slow down at every intersection and once memorably entered a road on the wrong side - the famous Chinese cutting across routine. She didn't really seem to be in full control of the car, rather it was the other way around. Needless to say, I took over the driving. When we return to the UK to live I'm having her do some driving lessons with an instructor and a UK driving test.

The average 'trained' and licenced Chinese driver is the equivalent to someone in Britain who has had maybe two or three hours instruction - certainly not the 20 or so hours required for competent and safe driving.

God forbid anyone make Chinese collectively value their own lives.

KopyKatKiller wrote:One participant on the march, Shirley Cheung, who has been driving for 20 years, told AFP: "I am strongly against the plan because Hong Kong drives on the left side of the road, mainland China on the right.''

"We have enough traffic accidents as it is, we don't want more!'' she said.

Easy solution: Give up driving on the wrong side of the street. If god would have wanted that we drive on the left side of the street ... the Vatican would be in London

custer wrote:

rickettyrabbit wrote:

custer wrote:Bad idea - I say again, very bad idea!

In Britain Chinese drivers can drive for a year on a Commie driving licence - again, a very, very bad idea. Universally, they haven't got a clue about driving, road use, road safety, the give way rule or any form of highway code.

My wife recently got her licence in Canada after learning in China and driving there for many years. It was very interesting to see her drive. She could operate the car quite competently, but her instincts were all wrong from years of driving in China. For example, while driving on main roads, she would instinctively slow down at every intersection, including ones with minor roads from which traffic must stop to enter the main road, and must yield the right of way to main road traffic.

She was afraid someone would accelerate out into the main road flow without warning - common in China. It took her a long time to learn to drive on the main road without slowing down at every intersection. That is only one of many habits learned for self-preservation in China that makes China-trained drivers a menace on the roads in many western countries. And my wife drove in Europe for 6 years - imagine what it's like for someone who has never lived and driven outside China.

My wife also drove in the UK for a year, and it was deeply unsettling. She would drive too slowly or too fast for the road conditions, slow down at every intersection and once memorably entered a road on the wrong side - the famous Chinese cutting across routine. She didn't really seem to be in full control of the car, rather it was the other way around. Needless to say, I took over the driving. When we return to the UK to live I'm having her do some driving lessons with an instructor and a UK driving test.

The average 'trained' and licenced Chinese driver is the equivalent to someone in Britain who has had maybe two or three hours instruction - certainly not the 20 or so hours required for competent and safe driving.

I was a better driver than 100% of mainland Chinese the first time I got behind the wheel at 13.

Hongkies are just agressive drivers but they can still drive.

In HK, I never see:

- People stopping their cars in the middle of the road for no reason
- Cars pull out of driveways at incredible speeds without looking
- Cars driving on the wrong side of the road because they can't be assed waiting in traffic
- Cars that run over children multiple times and drive off
- Cars plowing through pedestrian crossings with little concern for pedestrians
- Insert 10,000 more examples

They are an arrogant lot in HK but I don't blame them for having concerns as they watch their country go down the toilet.

look2me4guidance wrote:Hongkies are just agressive drivers but they can still drive.

In HK, I never see:

- People stopping their cars in the middle of the road for no reason
- Cars pull out of driveways at incredible speeds without looking
- Cars driving on the wrong side of the road because they can't be assed waiting in traffic
- Cars that run over children multiple times and drive off
- Cars plowing through pedestrian crossings with little concern for pedestrians
- Insert 10,000 more examples

They are an arrogant lot in HK but I don't blame them for having concerns as they watch their country go down the toilet.

I concur. HK can only go down the proverbial toilet as the Beijing gang are determined to eradicate all traces of civilisation from the territory. They have always hated HK, and now the British have left, they can dismantle the place regardless of the Basic Law. HK should try for independence, and apply for membership of the Commonwealth.