Blaze hawker still 'critical'

An elderly hawker who set himself on fire after he was fined and had his goods seized by a magistrate remained in a critical condition in Queen Mary Hospital last night.

Wong Tai-fuk, 76, set himself alight in North Kowloon Court on Monday after Magistrate James Tam Kwok-wah fined him $400 and confiscated 251 jade items. He suffered burns to 75 per cent of his body.

Wong had admitted causing an obstruction in a public place and hawking without a licence in a lane behind Apliu Street, Shamshuipo.