Netizens have raised HK$6,000 and change that has allowed an elderly illegal hawker (right photo) to pay a court fine. Photos: Facebook (Benson Tsang)
Remember the elderly illegal hawker who got the social media abuzz after his story was posted by a netizen?
The man can rest easy now that his HK$6,000 (US$775) fine, which he had planned to pay in HK$500 installments, has been covered.
A certain Benson Tsang came forward with the money which he raised with the help of a friend and others.
Tsang is described as a “forerunner” of the Equal Share Movement.
He said the man has no savings and the fine imposed by a judge for illegal hawking brought him emotional distress.
The situation was compounded when the judge denied his plea that he be allowed to pay it in stages.
The man was previously arrested and fined twice for a combined HK$6,000.
He paid the fines by borrowing money from friends which took him eight months to repay.
Tsang said the man was too embarrassed to ask his friends for help this time because it involved a big sum of money.
He was prepared to go to jail.
Tsang said he decided to launch a fundraising on social media after hearing the man’s story.
He promised that if he raised more than HK$6,000, he would get the man to use the money to share his desserts with passers-by.
Tsang said the fundraising is continuing. Gift vouchers are also accepted.
Elderly illegal hawker gets tough love from netizens (Sept. 16, 2015)
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