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Police today (November 19) warn that making a false report to cause wasteful employment of Police is an offence that calls for fines and custodial sentences.

The warning followed the arrest of a 58-year-old man for making a hoax report this morning.

At about 8.15 am, Police received a report of theft in a flat of a building at 106 Shanghai Street. But subsequent enquiries revealed no such incident there.

A subscriber check on the telephone call indicated that it was made from a pay-phone in a restaurant on Lai Chi Kok Road.

A man believed to be in connection with making the hoax report was arrested in the restaurant.

He has been released on $500 bail and is required to report back on December 19.

Under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, anyone who makes a false report causing wasteful employment of Police is liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

Police Report No.4

Issued by PPRB

End / 1630 hrs, Sunday, November 19, 2000 (CC/AI)

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