A Hong Kong court has fined a man HK$2,000 (US$257) for slapping a bus passenger after he refused to turn down the volume on his phone.
The 57-year-old man, Li Tsz-wai (name transliterated from Chinese), appeared at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts Thursday over the bus incident in Tsim Sha Tsui three months ago, according to Sing Tao.
On July 4, Li boarded bus 5 with his 83-year-old wheelchair-bound mother. Next to them, a passenger sitting in a priority seat was playing a game on his mobile phone with the volume turned up.
Angry that he was disturbing his elderly mother, the man told the passenger to turn down the volume on his phone or wear earphones. He refused, sparking an argument.
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As the bus reached the intersection of Salisbury Road and Canton Road, Li slapped the passenger, injuring the left side of his face.
He was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
In court, Li said the passenger—who was occupying a priority seat—was “a twenty-something young man.”
He was sentenced to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. During his plea, Li admitted that he was wrong and expressed regret.
Magistrate Ada Yim Shun-yee told Li not to use violence to solve problems. “Even if the passenger is not civil, what’s the point of hurting them?” she said.
