Hong Kong cabbie wins appeal over conviction for swearing at passenger
Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah of the Court of First Instance allowed part-time cabbie Lee Lai-ping's appeal after a magistrate slapped a HK$1,500 fine on her for hurling F-words at a customer.
A High Court judge has weighed into a debate on swearing, ruling in favour of a taxi driver who was contesting a conviction for cursing at a passenger.
Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah of the Court of First Instance allowed part-time cabbie Lee Lai-ping's appeal after a magistrate slapped a HK$1,500 fine on her for hurling F-words at a customer.
When a person uses foul language, it may be due to his general personality and habit. It may also be because he is venting his emotion after he was provoked and angered
"When a person uses foul language, it may be due to his general personality and habit. It may also be because he is venting his emotion after he was provoked and angered," Fung said in his judgment. "Even a teacher will use foul language when provoked and enraged."
In recent weeks, primary school teacher Alpais Lam Wai-sze has been in the spotlight after she was recorded shouting abuse at police officers over their handling of a confrontation between Falun Gong and the Youth Care Association in Mong Kok.
In the current case, Lee, 52, was in court for allegedly using foul language repeatedly to a passenger who accused her of having taken a wrong route from Causeway Bay to Tai Hang.
She allegedly abused him verbally again when he asked her to slow down. He called the police several minutes after alighting.