Smoker convicted for resisting TCIs exercising their duty
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     A 42-year-old man was convicted by the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (July 15) for resisting Tobacco Control Inspectors (TCIs) exercising their duty. He was sentenced to a 12-month probation order and also fined $500 each for the smoking offence and failing to produce an ID card. Before the sentence was handed down today, the man had already been remanded in custody for 25 days.

     The incident took place in Chuk Yuen Bus Terminus in Wong Tai Sin on December 6, 2010. When the TCIs asked the man to produce his ID card for issuing a fixed penalty notice for the smoking offence, he pushed away one of the TCIs and attempted to flee the scene. He was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police.

     A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe the smoking ban requirements and to cooperate with law enforcement officers.  

     "Resistance or use of violence on enforcement officers is a serious offence and carries serious legal consequences," the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, July 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:06

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