Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2022101/radical-urges-hong-kong-legislators-review-mtr-laws-after
Hong Kong/ Law and Crime

Radical urges Hong Kong legislators to review MTR by-laws after activist is fined over baggage dispute

Court rules that 160cm plastic sticks carried by Socialist Action chairwoman posed a safety risk

The incident happened at Kowloon Tong station. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A lawmaker-elect said the Legislative Council should find time to review MTR by-laws, after a social activist was fined HK$2,000 on Friday for refusing to produce proof of her identity to staff who stopped her as she carried three 160cm plastic sticks into a station.

The two offences were contrary to MTR by-laws, which “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung said need reviewing.

“There is no reason to violate rights of the public,” he said in support of Sally Tang Mei-ching, chairwoman of Socialist Action.

Tuen Mun Court was previously told that the MTR Corp had imposed luggage height restrictions capped at 130cm to minimise passengers’ risk of electrocution.

But Tang, 26, argued it was ridiculous to consider the three sticks she carried into Kowloon Tong Station on September 25 last year would pose such a danger.

She also argued that MTR staff should not be allowed to check passengers’ personal information.

But deputy magistrate Joseph Lee Jo-ey sided with prosecutors in finding her guilty of carrying prohibited items of baggage and of failing to produce proof of identity for inspection. He fined her HK$1,000 on each count.

MTR is a profit-making organisation that is restricting citizens’ space in order to pack more people into its trains Sally Tang Mei-ching

Lee said the sticks posed a risk of injury or damage to railway property as they towered over children and even some adults. “They would be even higher above the ground when carried during travelling,” he said.

The court heard that Tang had shouted, “Shame to MTR, bully small citizens”, after her confrontation with staff.

“I believe I’m innocent,” she said in mitigation. “MTR is a profit-making organisation that is restricting citizens’ space in order to pack more people into its trains – that’s why they won’t relax the luggage restrictions. This is obvious.”

Under the by-laws, carrying prohibited items of luggage is punishable by a maximum penalty of a HK$2,000 fine. Failure to provide name, address or telephone number or to produce proof of identity carries a higher maximum penalty – a HK$5,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment.