 IN BRIEF (Page 4)
(HK Edition)
Updated: 2009-03-28 07:24 Hong Kong Dismissed officer to return to duty Former police officer Lam Siu-po, who fought "the Law" and won, will return to his job as a police officer. Lam went to the Court of Final Appeal to fight the ruling of a police disciplinary committee that ended his career as a police officer nearly seven years ago. Lam lost his career with the police force because he made some bad investments and was forced into bankruptcy. At a disciplinary committee looking into Lam's affairs, he was denied the right to counsel. The committee later concluded Lam's bankruptcy would impair his ability to serve as a police officer. The former officer, who later obtained work as a security guard, won his case at the Court of Final Appeal when justices ruled that Lam was denied the constitutional right to legal representation at his hearings. Lam's troubles may not be over however. A spokesman for the police department said consideration is being given to re-launching disciplinary proceedings against Lam. Tackling pesticide residues in foods World experts on food safety gathered in Hong Kong Friday, for a symposium on regulating pesticide residues in foods. About 140 participants from the food trade, academia, government departments and relevant authorities of the mainland and Macao are taking part in the one and a half day event. They will share information and exchange ideas concerning challenges and difficulties faced by authorities in regulating pesticide residues. Pesticide residues have been a source of growing concern in recent years among consumers and the health community. Long term exposure to excessive pesticide residue may be a cause of chronic illness. South African dolphins bound for Ocean Park Two dolphins, a father and daughter pair, from the Bayworld marine park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa soon will be headed for Ocean Park. They are Domino, the 18-year-old father and 4-year-old Dumisa. The younger dolphin is rapidly approaching maturity and officials at Bayworld want to ensure that she does not breed with her parent. As these are the only remaining dolphins at the South African facility they will have to be moved. The consensus is that Ocean Park in Hong Kong would be the best facility for these two dolphins, said Bayworld director Sylvia van Zyl. "The move to Ocean Park will allow us to separate the dolphins, place them in viable social environments and once they are comfortable, allow them to breed with unrelated dolphins of the same species," she added. Taiwan Herbal substance cultivated for medicine The Taiwan Agriculture Research Institute (TARI) reports it has developed a technique for cultivating dangshen, or red-rooted salvia, an important ingredient in pharmaceutical preparations, an institute researcher, Lin Yi-kung, announced Friday. Red rooted salvia is an important component used by Western pharmaceutical companies and practitioners of Chinese medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, red salvia is used often in combination with other herbs, to treat diverse ailments, particularly cardiovascular disorders such as hardening of the arteries and blood clotting. The plant contains salvianolic acid B which can be extracted from the roots and leaves. Taiwan's pharmaceutical companies import as much as NT$6 million ($178,042) worth of the plant each year to use in their preparations. China Daily - Agencies (HK Edition 03/28/2009 page4) |
