Four local riders to represent city in Olympics

Hong Kong will be represented in the team events of the 2008 Olympic equestrian competitions in August by four local jumping riders - Kenneth Cheng, Samantha Lam, Patrick Lam and Jennifer Lee. The four have achieved their Olympic minimum eligibility standard at a special qualifier in Hagen, Germany.

Three riders from the mainland, one from New Zealand and one from Australia also took part in the qualifier yesterday.

Kenneth Cheng was qualified after finishing first in the event.

Maternity fees case to be heard next week

Hong Kong resident Fok Siu-wing, whose pregnant daughter-in-law is from the mainland, has filed a judicial review against the Hospital Authority's decision to increase the maternity fees for non-Hong Kong residents to HK$39,000.

The case will be heard in the High Court next Wednesday and Thursday.

The raised fees are enforced in an attempt to stem a huge influx of pregnant mainland women coming to the city to give birth to take advantage of the cheap and advanced medical facilities here.

Road safety measures in Sai Kung proposed

The Transport Department proposed seven measures to improve road safety at the spot in Sai Kung where a tourist coach overturned on May 1, killing 19 passengers and injuring more than 40 others, in a special session of the Sai Kung District Council yesterday attended by representatives of several government departments.

The measures include erecting "Go Slow!" signs, installing video cameras to monitor passing vehicles' speed, and covering the high-risk section of the road with anti-slipping materials.

Man charged with murder in missing teen case

A 24-year-old man who was arrested on Wednesday has been charged with murder last night after preliminary police investigation suggested that Wong Ka-mui, a 16-year-old girl who has been missing since April 27, has been killed in a Sham Shui Po apartment.

He will appear in court today.

Another man who was also arrested on Wednesday was released on bail.

Meanwhile, search for the girl's body continued. Police officers talked to residents in the neighborhood of Shek Kip Mei Street in Sham Shui Po where Wong was last seen.

DH issues warning over slimming product

The Department of Health warns people not to buy or consume a slimming product called Li Da Dai Dai Hua Jiao Nang, which contains an undeclared drug ingredient with potentially serious side effects.

A 17-year-old man felt unwell after taking the product bought online last July. He later sought treatment due to auditory hallucinations. The product contains N-desmethyl-sibutramine, an analogue of sibutramine and is associated with psychosis.

China Daily

(HK Edition 05/09/2008 page1)