Fengshen to move closer to city today or tomorrow

Typhoon Fengshen, which prompted the Hong Kong Observatory to issue the tropical cyclone standby signal no 1 at 7:40 am yesterday after moving within 800 km of the territory, degenerated into a severe tropical storm last night.

At 10pm yesterday, Fengshen was about 530 km south-southeast of Hong Kong and was moving north or north-northwest at about 14 km per hour toward southern China.

No 1 signal remained in force at press time.

The storm is expected to move closer to Hong Kong today and tomorrow, but its rain belt will not affect the city for the time being.

Kidnapping case to continue next month

Two men, aged 21 and 30, and a 26-year-old woman appeared in Kwun Tong magistracy yesterday facing the charge of kidnapping a 7-year-old boy for ransom.

A social worker, Nadim Mohammad, his pregnant girlfriend, Baljit Kaur, and an asylum seeker Ahsan Sulman are accused of abducting the boy in Sai Kung last Thursday. The boy was later rescued by police in Cheung Sha Wan after a ransom of HK$200,000 was demanded from his father who called the police.

No pleas were taken. The case was adjourned until next month for further inquiries and an identification parade. The three accused were remanded in custody.

Art exhibition to be held at history museum

An exhibition featuring approximately 60 artifacts from 28 heritage institutes in 14 provinces and autonomous regions will be held from July 16 until October 13 at the Hong Kong Museum of History.

Jointly presented by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and organized by the Hong Kong Museum of History and Art Exhibitions China, the "Heavenly Horse - The Horse in Chinese Art and Culture" exhibition will be held to coincide with Hong Kong's hosting of the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

CE to lead delegation to Sichuan this week

Chief Executive (CE) Donald Tsang will lead a government delegation to visit the Sichuan disaster areas for three days this Friday and discuss with the Sichuan authorities the mechanism and arrangements for Hong Kong to participate in the reconstruction work.

Members of the delegation include the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam and

Director of the CE's Office Norman Chan.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing said that over 1,000 Hong Kong residents have registered for volunteer work in the disaster areas in Sichuan.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/24/2008 page1)