Traffic violation or racial discrimination

Last August 12 (Friday) at around 7:05 pm, my husband was issued a ticket for unauthorized stopping at a bus stop (violation costs $320)near Kam Hing Village, Kam Tin. The police held us for almost 30 minutes for failure to produce proper identity card. My husband forgot his ID in his pants when he changed clothes at home.

His friend who was present at the incident drove home, which was few meters away, and took his ID. Upon presenting his ID card, they (4-5 police officers) issued him a ticket and right after let us go.

We drove off with the police van behind us. On the next bus stop (infront of Kam Tin Jockey Club) there was a car parked with two Chinese men aboad. The police also stopped there but not to give them a traffic violation ticket or to ask them to produce any ID card but to politely talk with them and let them go...:-(

Why us and not them? is it because we are not Chinese and they are? I already filed a complaint/report online that night but until now I have not received any follow-up.

Where is the police mission: to exercise impartiality and integrity at all times?

I am just wondering if today, they can issue a traffic violation on the basis of nationality then maybe tomorrow they can just pick me up and charged me of a crime because I am a Southasian and let go others (who commit the same crime) just because they are Chinese?

If I refuse to pay $320(I know it is not a big amount), can I do so?

This is not my first time to be treated indifferently by a police officer.Once I lost my camera in a shopping mall few years ago and they (police) even discouraged me not to pursue the case. The other officer (in civilian clothes) even interrogated me (at the top of his voice) and was politely asking questions the shop attendants who were Chinese. Later, lowered down his voice when we found out (after 8 hours of investigation) that one of the lady took my camera. The lady was seen on the CCTV picking my paper bag where my digital camera was...What a way to be treated, a victim being shouted upon and a thief being interrogated politely...:-(

If they will let me pay $320 for the violation, fine. But why only us? Can we file any charges to these police officers for discrimination?Or for being impartial?

I need some expert legal advise on this matter...thanks for your help...

It might be discrimination but will be impossible to prove. Just pay the fine and put it down as 'one of those things'. Its only $320 and is hardly worth the fight.

@ Bob the Builder...I know that it is only $320, it might be racial discrimination but impossible to prove...Let us put it this way...'" a southasian and a Chinese commits the same criminal offense in Hongkong. Both were tried and proven guilty. The Southasian got a term and the Chinese was able to get away easily... Like I have said, our car and that Chinese car were parked on the bus stop (just few meters apart), if we have the same violation---I got the ticket and he did not..how would you call it? I can put it down "as one of those things" but I can not keep on counting all my life...thanks for your advise, though.

sorry, your parents might not have told you but life is not always fair.


if you can prove your case (video, photos, etc - not just 'i have seen') then sue them for racial discrimination. if you cannot prove it, pay up and move on with your life.

@cookie09, my parents don't have to tell me...in my 15 years here in Hong kong, I have had experiences. But this is the worst...from POLICE! I want to move on with my life that is why I want to stop this one...I know "I am not alone" in this experience...we cannot just keep quiet everytime right?...It is not the amount of money but doing what is right...I know that I am right in this matter. I got a reference number for my complaint already and I am confident that I can win this...if nobody will speak up and fight then this will go on.

Hi Irish Spring - (reminds me of the soap Zest lol)


I dont think its a case of racial profiling. I'm an ABC and I always thought they LOVE giving tickets to people like me. but I found out its, not the case..


Your husband committed a traffic violation plain and simple. He got caught and was issued a fine. Not because was white, black, seAsian, Mainland chinese, or a konger. Whenever you're pulled over by the police for a traffic violation.. 99% of the time, you'll get a ticket.


As for your area kam tin, which is near the HK china border, they frequently have road blocks just to check for, seat belts, wanted people, drunk driving and Illegal immigrants. Also Kam tin is very famous for "village families" who are not usually touched by the police force.

In your case, it might have been that the 2 chinese men were undercover cops/ICAC or merely friends or if they were meters away, maybe the tickets were already issued to them.


There are good cops and bad cops. We all know this. unfortunately the bad cop in your mall case soured your opinion of them already.


Good luck with living there in the future.

-joe

Actually i am surprised the police booked you at all. The police in HK usually turn a blind eye to everything.. especialyl minor things. I have seen a car overtaking across double lines, down hill on a blind bend... in the opposite direction a police van was coming. Potenitally there could have been a road fatility.. the police did absolutley nothing!


As far as getting a response to your complaint... hmmm good luck!

@ beancurd

Your case happened to us also.We were turning near the corner of Kat Hing Wai going to Wellcome supermarket. A truck was coming out and unfortunately there was no enough space so we had to reverse a little bit. On the process of reversing we suddenly heard a bang behind us. My husband was confident that there was no vehicle behind while we were reversing...so,where that sudden noise came from?.

Aboard the other car was a Chinese guy and woman (I supposed they are husband and wife). The guy came out to look at the damage from his car. And there was absolutely none. And much to my surprise he was demanding $800 for that. Can you imagine? My husband refused to pay the amount instead he offered $300. The guy says "No" and immediately called the police. As we were in a hurry. My husband just gave the his cellphone number to the man who immediately wrote it down with our plate number.

A few days later my husband received a letter from the police asking him to appear before a police station in Fan Ling. The process took him 3 meetings until the police decided and handed the decision. As far as I can remember the process took almost 3 months.

Finally, we received a letter saying that my husband does not require any further response to the incident. I feel sorry that some has to take advantage of this kind of situation (just to get a monetary favor) without properly evaluating the situation first.

Whereas one incident happened to us, where we were bumped by a Toyota granvia driven by a Chinese guy just few blocks away from our home. The front light was shattered and the Chinese guy promised us that he would replaced it within few days. My husband did not bother to call the police anymore. We waited and waited but to no avail. We even tried to call the guy but all we got were "broken promises"...