Man sentenced for assaulting two Tobacco Control Inspectors

     A 70-year-old man was sentenced to one month's imprisonment suspended for 12 months in the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (June 28) for assaulting two Tobacco Control Inspectors (TCIs) when the two TCIs were exercising their duties. He was also fined $2,000 for a smoking offence.
 
     The incident took place at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Bus Interchange in Hung Hom on January 23, 2018. The man assaulted two TCIs when he was being issued a Fixed Penalty Notice by the TCIs for a smoking offence. 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 co-operate with law enforcement officers.

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

     As of today, there have been five cases of assaulting TCIs in 2018. Since 2007, 86 cases have been recorded and 19 out of 72 offenders convicted for assaulting TCIs were sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The maximum penalty meted out by the court was immediate imprisonment for four months.