Two weekends ago, a 34-year-old man surnamed Sheung reportedly hit 21-year-old American student Kurt Leswing (right) in Happy Valley with his Nissan GT-R Skyline. Leswing died from his injuries. Sheung has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving under the influence of alcohol.
In Hong Kong, an average of 35 people die every year in drink-driving accidents. In Sheung's case it's all the more alarming that he was driving a car worth about HK$750,000 but was released on bail of just HK$5,000.
Drunk drivers are, by nature, demonically selfish individuals who are prepared to put the lives of others at risk in pursuit of their own pleasure. Society needs to send a clearer message to them that their behaviour puts them in the lowest class of common criminal and that the only thing they deserve is our absolute contempt.
In Sheung's case - and in all others - it would have been better if bail had been set at something like twice the value of the car he was driving. Better still, suspend the driving rights of all those charged with drink driving until their cases are resolved. That happens in some countries but not here.
Hong Kong is sending a soft message to drink drivers and that may be costing lives.
