Hong Kong hawker held after attack that left hygiene officer in ‘life-threatening’ condition
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 17 March, 2015, 5:27pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 18 March, 2015, 7:14am
Clifford Lo [email protected]
The attack was captured on CCTV. Photo: SCMP Pictures
A hawker surrendered himself to police yesterday in connection with an attack on a hygiene officer who was last night in a coma fighting for his life after undergoing brain surgery.
Wu Kong-sum, 58, a hawker control officer, was said to be in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam following the assault in Des Voeux Road Central at about 4.45pm on Sunday.
A government source described his condition as "life-threatening".
The 36-year-old man, who walked into Central Police Station yesterday afternoon, was arrested and was being held for questioning. He had not been charged last night.
Police said that records showed the suspect had been twice prosecuted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
Wu was working alone at the time of the attack, which lasted for just a few seconds but was captured on closed-circuit television. He is seen approaching a man selling baseball caps to women who appear to be domestic helpers outside the On Lok Yuen Building near the Central MTR station.
The footage goes on to show the officer apparently grabbing the arm of the illegal hawker. There is a short struggle and then the officer appears to be pushed to the floor.
"The attacker, who was wearing a red cap, then flees, leaving behind his bag of hats.
Wu suffered serious brain injuries and was taken unconscious to Queen Mary Hospital.
Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said yesterday: "Mr Wu's condition remains critical and I am very concerned about his situation. The clinical team in the hospital is doing all it can to support their colleague."
He had earlier said that the department would see what they could do to enhance training as well as protection for its frontline law enforcement officers.
According to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, there have been 42 cases of staff on its hawker control teams sustaining injuries on duty over the past 12 months.
Its director, Vivian Lau Lee-kwan, who visited Wu in hospital, said hawker control officers generally worked in pairs when making arrests.
