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A 40-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for seven days at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 28) for obstructing a Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI) in the exercise of his powers. He was also given a fixed penalty fine of $1,500 for a smoking offence.
The incident took place at Plover Cove Shopping Arcade in Tai Po on June 16. The smoking offender ignored the TCI's request to provide the required information and produce proof of identity, and attempted to evade a team of inspectors when it was inspecting the premises. He was subsequently prosecuted for the offences.
A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) urged the public to observe the smoking ban requirements and to co-operate with law enforcement officers.
"Intimidation, use of violence or obstruction on enforcement officers are serious offences and carry serious legal consequences," the spokesman said.
As of today, there have been six summonses issued for resisting or willfully obstructing TCIs in 2015. Since 2007, 52 summonses have been issued by the Tobacco Control Office of DH. As stipulated in the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance (Cap 600), the maximum penalty for resisting or willfully obstructing a public officer in the exercise of his powers is a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Ends/Monday, December 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:02
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