Advertisement
Advertisement

Man blinded by party election placard seeks $1m in damages

Felix Lo

A man who claims his left eye was blinded by a Democratic Party campaign placard on the Legislative Council election day in 2000 began a lawsuit against the MTR Corporation yesterday.

Tang Chung-loi is seeking more than $1 million from the corporation, which in turn is seeking an unspecified indemnity from the party.

Mr Tang says he has also suffered economic losses and depression since the incident, which occurred at Wong Tai Sin MTR station on September 10, 2000.

He told the Court of First Instance he was near the top of the steps of the station's Exit A when he saw someone in a green vest waving a placard with the faces of Democratic Party candidates Lee Wah-ming and Szeto Wah.

The placard hit his left eye, damaging the cornea, he said.

Mr Tang, represented by lawyer Daniel W.S. Chan, said he had lost a monthly income of about $15,000 from driving a taxi and part-time professional photographic work.

He also suffered depression and had developed a fear of meeting people, causing him to withdraw from his extensive voluntary community service and membership in public bodies. These included service with the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, fundraising for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and membership in the mutual help committee of the Lung Wing House in Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate, he said.

'My wife had also complained because I could not earn a living and we separated,' Mr Tang said, adding that he had since been living on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance.

'The man was on my left. He was standing on the top staircase landing, when his placard injured my eye,' he told defence lawyer Joanna Molloy during cross-examination.

Ms Molloy challenged his claim that he was injured by a Democratic Party campaigner. She said it could have been one of the '15 or 16' people from the rival Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong who were also campaigning outside the exit .

'I disagree,' Mr Tang replied. 'I did not see any DAB campaigner there. I only saw four campaigners in green vests who belonged to the Democratic Party.'

He also rejected Ms Molloy's suggestion that he would not accuse any of the DAB campaigners because he was a member of that party. He denied any political affiliation with the DAB.

The hearing continues today before Deputy Court of First Instance Judge Barnabas Fung Wah.

Post