Info-Station
20 January 2011
A male smoker was today (January 20) sentenced to four weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, for obstructing a Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI), and fined $2,000 for failing to give name, address and contact telephone number and proof of identity upon request.
The case was heard in the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court.
The incident took place in Fa Yuen Street Market Cooked Food Centre, Mong Kok on December 3, 2010. The 55-year-old smoker refused to supply his name, address and contact telephone number and produce proof of identity to the TCI for inspection and issuance of Fixed Penalty Notice.
The man was subsequently arrested and charged with failing to give name, address and contact telephone number or produce proof of identity upon request, as well as resisting or willfully obstructing a public officer who was exercising his power under the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance.
The man had earlier been fined $1,500 for a smoking offence.
A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe smoking ban requirements and to co-operate with law-enforcement officers.
"Willful obstruction of enforcement officers in their exercise of duty may carry serious legal consequences," he said.