Three food stall workers arrested for assaulting health inspectors in Sham Shui Po

Three staff members of a food stall in Sham Shui Po were arrested for suspected assault on public officers after a confrontation with Food and Environmental Hygiene Department staff over street obstruction turned violent on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

The incident occurred around 5pm on February 16 on Kweilin Street when health inspectors patrolling the area noticed suspected street obstruction by miscellaneous items and rubbish outside a food stall. 

Officers verbally advised the staff to clear the items, but the situation quickly escalated into a dispute.

A video circulating online shows several inspectors clashing with two men. One man in a white shirt repeatedly tried to walk away while evading officers, as a bare-chested man was subdued by multiple inspectors. The scene became chaotic with onlookers gathering.

A 20-year-old surnamed Leung allegedly spat at an inspector, while a 30-year-old surnamed Chow and a 25-year-old surnamed Chong became involved in physical scuffles with officers, during which one inspector was allegedly grabbed by the neck.

Police later arrested the three stall workers on suspicion of assaulting a public servant. 

Five people were injured, all conscious and taken to Caritas Medical Centre for treatment.