The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that it “strongly condemns” violent attacks on the government’s tobacco control enforcement officers.
According to the statement, during a joint inspection by SSM and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) officials in Camões Garden for tobacco control enforcement, a local resident who was smoking illegally there refused to show his ID card to the enforcement officers and pushed them, resulting in injuries to an IAM official when he fell down a flight of stairs.
The statement quoted the Health Bureau as underlining that it will not tolerate or condone such attacks and strictly enforce the law, adding that the police have launched an investigation into the incident.
In the statement, the bureau extended its “deepest” sympathies to the injured official.
The statement reaffirmed that the bureau will continue to step up its tobacco control enforcement measures, urging smokers to cooperate, and not to defy law enforcement measures. Abusing, intimidating or assaulting a law enforcement officer may lead to criminal charges of disobedience, aggravated insult and aggravated bodily harm.
Residents aware of illegal smoking should call the Tobacco and Alcohol Prevention and Control Office’s Reporting and Enquiry Hotline on 2855 6789.
