HK unlikely a terrorist target, say police

Hong Kong police said yesterday that the terrorist threat level of the city remains "Moderate", meaning that Hong Kong is an unlikely target of terrorist attacks. The remark was made after mainland authorities thwarted an attempt to sabotage a civilian flight from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to Beijing last week.

The police said they maintain close liaison with security authorities on the mainland and overseas security and law enforcement agencies to ensure timely exchange of intelligence and threat assessments.

Special attention is paid to the airport, public transport systems and key infrastructures, the police added.

Environmental bureau to reduce energy by 25%

The Environment Bureau is working to reduce energy intensity by 25 percent by 2030, Secretary for Environment Edward Yau said yesterday. Officiating at the 2nd Hong Kong Energy Efficiency Awards presentation ceremony, Yau said apart from cost-saving, energy conservation is one of the main measures to sustain development and build a green Hong Kong.

To meet this target the bureau has implemented measures to promote energy conservation and the use of clean energy. The efficiency competition attracted more than 1,400 entries from January to August. The winners in the Common Areas category achieved energy savings of 34 percent, compared with the same period in the preceding year. For the Households and Tenants categories, winners saved more than 40 and 20 percent energy respectively.

Hospital staff training enhanced

Tuen Mun Hospital has strengthened staff training on blood-testing and sample-labeling following a mix-up of two patients' blood samples in November that led to the wrong patient receiving unnecessary treatment. The hospital said yesterday a staff member of the Medical and Geriatric Ward mixed up the labels of the blood samples of two women aged 70 and 85 on Nov 11.

The hospital discovered the incident on the same day as the examination test result of one of the patients conflicted with the clinical presentation. It immediately re-examined the two patients and provided appropriate treatment. The patients' families were informed the following day. The patients were discharged on Nov 16 and 19 respectively.

URA to acquire Sneaker Street at HK$6,000 a sq ft

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) reportedly plans to buy back ownership of 175 properties located on Sai Yee Street in Mong Kok at HK$6,000 per square foot and will make the formal offer to the owners by the end of this month.

A total of 14 buildings with 175 property rights and 38 shops will be affected by the HK$3.14 billion redevelopment project.

When completed in 2013, the old "Sneaker Street" will become a multi-story sportswear shopping center. There will also be several high-rise apartment buildings and public leisure areas.

Trash can thief jailed for half year

A jobless man was sentenced to six months behind bars for stealing several removable inner containers of stainless steel garbage cans from subway stations last month. An Eastern District magistrate handed down the ruling after the defendant pleaded guilty to the crime.

He said the offense could warrant nine months in jail but he believed the defendant has cooperated with police after his arrest and is unlikely to recommit the offense after release. The police have stepped up surveillance after several garbage can inner containers disappeared from Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations in a matter of days in Feb. Chow Chee-wing, 36, was caught red-handed trying to steal one at the MTR station in Central in late Feb. He told the authorities he had stolen the other containers as well and sold them to metal collectors for HK$200 each.

China Daily

(HK Edition 03/11/2008 page1)