Illegal hawker sentenced for obstructing public officer
*******************************************************

¡@¡@An illegal hawker was sentenced to two months¡¦ imprisonment, suspended for two years, by the Eastern Magistrates¡¦ Courts today (January 12) for obstructing public officers in performing their duties during a hawker raid in Shau Kei Wan Road.

¡@¡@The incident took place shortly after midnight on February 22 last year.

¡@¡@"A male and a female illegal hawker selling flowers at the location showed resistance when officers of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department tried to arrest them," a department spokesman said.

   The man was sentenced to two months¡¦ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was fined $2,000 for obstructing public officers in performing their duties. Each illegal hawker was fined a total of $800 for unlicensed hawking and causing obstruction in public place.

¡@¡@"Use of force against public officers is not only wrong, but also carries serious legal consequences," the spokesman warned.

¡@¡@"Members of the public should co-operate with law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties."



Ends/Thursday, January 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:11

NNNN