Powers of search on omnibuses and within bus interchanges
127B.—(1) For the purpose of ensuring the security or safety of persons on any omnibus or within any bus interchange, a public transport official may, without giving any reason, require any person on the omnibus or within the bus interchange to allow the public transport official to inspect and search any baggage or other thing carried by the person or apparently in the immediate control of the person.
(2) Any person upon whom a request is made pursuant to subsection (1) shall permit the baggage or thing to be inspected and searched.
(3) Without prejudice to subsection (4), the public transport official may require any person who refuses to permit any baggage or thing carried by the person or apparently in the immediate control of the person to be inspected and searched to leave the omnibus or bus interchange with the baggage or thing, and that person shall do so within a reasonable time.
(4) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
(5) In this section, “public transport official” means —
(a)
any officer or employee of the Authority;
(b)
any member of any auxiliary police force in uniform;
(c)
any employee of the bus service operator or bus interchange operator; or
(d)
any security officer (within the meaning of the Private Security Industry Act (Cap. 250A)) engaged by the bus service operator or bus interchange operator,
who is authorised by the Authority in writing to exercise the power to search under this section at or in relation to any omnibus or bus interchange specified in that written authorisation.