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A 48-year-old woman, who wilfully obstructed a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) officer in the execution of public duties, was convicted of resisting a public officer and sentenced to 80 hours' community service, to be completely fulfilled in one year, at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (December 20).
The court heard that an Assistant Hawker Control Officer was wilfully obstructed by the defendant during a blitz operation against unlicensed hawkers and illegal shop extensions at Chun Yeung Street in North Point on October 5 this year.
An FEHD spokesman reminded members of the public to co-operate with law enforcement officers. According to section 139 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132), any person who wilfully obstructs, resists or uses abusive language to any law enforcement officer in the execution of his duties is liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.
"To use force against public officers is not right and offenders would have a criminal record when convicted. Furthermore, the FEHD would claim from offenders losses arising from the absence of duty of the injured public officers through civil litigation," he added.
Ends/Friday, December 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:38
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