A high-profile cycling activist who was knocked off his bike in Central by a car driven by a former senior policeman, has been cleared of careless riding. The verdict drew mixed reactions from the legal and cycling communities.
The car of Spencer Foo Tsun-kong, a former senior assistant police commissioner, struck the bicycle of Martin Turner, chairman of the Cycling Alliance, on August 31 last year. The incident occurred after Turner, 50, overtook Foo's car and crossed into his lane on Queensway, Central.
Foo told the court Turner swerved in front of him, but Turner claimed Foo saw him and made eye contact as he overtook the car when a traffic light turned green.
On Monday, Special Magistrate Lau Suk-han, sitting in Kwun Tong Court, found Turner not guilty of careless cycling. Lau chose not to award costs, so Turner will foot a legal bill of about HK$30,000 over a charge for which the maximum fine is HK$500. He admitted a separate charge of not having a bicycle bell, for which he was fined HK$1,000.
Turner said his acquittal was a victory for cyclists in Hong Kong. 'It's one step in saying that yes, cyclists are normal road users too,' he said. 'The laws of Hong Kong are very clear and it's just about how it's enforced.'
Turner, who organises an annual ride commemorating cyclists who have died on the city's roads, says he is considering making a formal case against Foo to the Complaints Against Police Office. A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said it was taking no further action.