A magistrate was outraged yesterday at the conduct of three Peng Chau ferry passengers who dumped a fire extinguisher in the sea and caused uproar on board because they were angry over fares.
Eastern Court Magistrate John Brennan said: 'You permanently deprived the ship of the fire extinguisher. What would have happened if there was a fire and someone was burnt?' He asked if painter To Kwok-hung, 21, electronics company worker Lo Tat-kwan, 19, and decorator Leung Tak-sum, 23, were drunk when they went on the rampage.
Defence barrister Steve Chui told Mr Brennan the defendants were drunk, and that had they not consumed alcohol the incident would not have happened.
The magistrate was told that the three passengers, all Peng Chau residents, had a dispute with Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry staff on July 18 over fares which had been increased in April.
Prosecutor Amy Chan told the court the three began cursing loudly while the double-decker vessel was sailing.
Leung was seen throwing a dustbin to the lower deck, the court heard.
