China Scene: West

Friends' intervention helps turn job offer into marriage

Liu Jun unexpectedly found himself with a wife after his friends changed his "nanny wanted" advertisement into a lonely hearts one in Haikou, capital of Hainan province.

Liu, who got a divorce in 2006, slowly fell in love with his nanny, Li Lili, a native of Chongqing municipality, after experiencing the love she lavished on his son and on him.

Liu has decided to marry Li on the coming May Day.

(www.nanhainet.com)

Hong Kong doctors must work on the fly

On average, public clinics in Hong Kong special administrative region must limit their visits with patients to less than seven minutes, and more than 90 percent of the doctors contacted for a recent survey said the situation would create risks for both patients and doctors.

More than 62 percent of the doctors surveyed said doctors should spend around 15 minutes with each patient.

Questionnaires were sent to 74 administrators of local government clinics last month.

The survey came in response to the growing number of wrong diagnoses that have been reported in the SAR in the past month.

(Wen Wei Po)

Fortune smiles on humbly paid security guard

A community security guard surnamed Fang in Foshan, Guangdong province, plans to take a long break and get married after winning the lottery.

Fang, a native of Sichuan province, earns 1,200 yuan ($170) a month. His fortunes were reversed when he won a 60,000-yuan prize while playing the lottery last week.

Fang, who arrived in the Pearl River delta city three years ago said he would have had to wait to get married if it had not been for his lucky break with the lottery.

(Southern Metropolis Daily)

Family disappointed by son-turned-daughter

An old couple who thought their dreams of having a grandson had come true fainted after learning that their grandchild was actually a girl - two hours after she was born.

The incident took place in the Shenzhen special economic zone, Guangdong province.

A local resident surnamed Liang heard on a loudspeaker that his wife, surnamed Long, had delivered a son. But Liang was presented with a daughter two hours later when he was allowed to see the newest addition to his family.

Officials at the Bao'an District Hospital of Women and Children said the nurse had made a slip of the tongue.

Liang had already phoned his parents at that time and said they were delighted to learn that they had a grandson.

Liang suspects that his baby might have been swapped and has called for a DNA test.

(Southern Metropolis Daily)

(China Daily 03/21/2008 page6)