An off-duty police officer accused of hitting a taxi driver during a row over a cleaning fee for spitting in the taxi was given the benefit of the doubt yesterday. Edmond Chong Yiu-ming had pleaded not guilty in Kwun Tong Court to assaulting Wong Chi-ming, 38, on September 5. Wong said a drunken Chong spat in his taxi and he demanded a cleaning fee. Police had to subdue Chong. Magistrate So Wai-tak told Chong to reflect on his behaviour to avoid tainting the force's reputation.