Incensed woman wins HK$75,000 payout

A family who burned pungent incense in the corridor outside their high-rise flat has been ordered to pay HK$75,000 in compensation to a neighbour who took them to court.

The family was also told it must only burn environmentally friendly joss sticks in future, and they should be just 11centimetres long.

The unprecedented order was handed down by District Court Judge David Lok Kai-hong as he granted an injunction to Hu Wei-hsin after she filed a nuisance claim against Ma Hung-wing, complaining that the burning of the incense led to the premature birth of her baby and caused discomfort, including respiratory problems, stress, headache and sleepless nights.

Ma and his wife and son have been ordered to burn incense no more than twice a day at their Mei Foo home, with each session not lasting more than 30 minutes.