Bus Passenger Caught on Camera Vaping, Looking Dazed; Netizens Warn of Drug Use, Urge Police Report
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A video circulating online has captured widespread attention after showing a male passenger openly vaping on a Hong Kong bus while appearing highly disoriented. The footage shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses seated on the upper deck of a Citybus, casually using an electronic cigarette and exhaling thick white vapor. His head rests against the seat back, eyes tightly closed, in what appears to be an intoxicated state. The incident has sparked heated online discussion, with many netizens suspecting the man may have been using "space oil," a street name for etomidate, a potent sedative that has been illegally mixed into vaping liquids.
Key Points
- The incident took place on the evening of January 22, approximately 8:25 PM, aboard a Citybus Route 962X traveling from Causeway Bay to Tuen Mun
- The video shows a middle-aged male passenger with glasses sitting on the upper deck, inhaling from a white e-cigarette and exhaling long plumes of white vapor before tilting his head back with eyes closed
- Netizens have flooded social media with comments questioning whether the man was under the influence of etomidate, with one remarking "he looks like he's on drugs" and another noting "he's shaking, could he be smoking space oil?"
- Under Hong Kong law effective since April 30 this year, possessing alternative smoking products including e-cigarettes in public places is illegal, with penalties ranging from a HK$3,000 fixed fine to up to HK$50,000 and six months imprisonment for excess quantities
- Concerned netizens have urged immediate police reporting, warning that the bus driver could be impaired by second-hand exposure and that other passengers could also be affected
Why It Matters
This incident highlights growing public safety concerns surrounding the misuse of e-cigarettes laced with dangerous substances like etomidate on public transit. The relaxed demeanor of the passenger despite the illegal nature of the act underscores potential enforcement gaps. With Hong Kong's comprehensive ban on alternative smoking products already in effect, authorities face mounting pressure to address both vaping violations and suspected drug use in shared public spaces where innocent bystanders could be endangered.
This incident highlights growing public safety concerns surrounding the misuse of e-cigarettes laced with dangerous substances like etomidate on public transit. The relaxed demeanor of the passenger despite the illegal nature of the act underscores potential enforcement gaps. With Hong Kong's comprehensive ban on alternative smoking products already in effect, authorities face mounting pressure to address both vaping violations and suspected drug use in shared public spaces where innocent bystanders could be endangered.