Officials opt not to prosecute hawker, 74

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department yesterday decided not to prosecute a 74-year-old woman who sells nail clippers and combs in Kwun Tong after facing fierce public criticism. The woman, who suffers from hypertension and recently had cataract surgery, knelt down to beg for mercy after receiving a summons on Tuesday. A department spokesman said guidelines had not been followed during the arrest process. Lee Mei-siu, vice-chairwoman of the department's staff union, said frontline staff had never received any guidelines. Legislator Lee Wah-ming welcomed the decision.