Road racers cause pile-up in Kwun Tong

The police have arrested five people for suspected illegal road racing following a multi-vehicle pile-up on the Kwun Tong by-pass yesterday. Several cars crashed into slow moving traffic near a roadblock while attempting to escape pursuing police. Five people were injured. Three other vehicles driven through the roadblock were later found abandoned. The road racers are estimated to have been driving at more than 100 kilometers an hour. A traffic policeman was hurt when he fell off his motorbike. Some taxi drivers accused the police of using their vehicles as the roadblocks to stop the illegal racers without asking them to get out of the vehicles, putting their safety at risk.

Hiring freeze continues at broadcaster RTHK

Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Duncan Pescod said RTHK will continue the freeze on hiring civil servants because the review of public broadcasting has not been completed. Pescod said in the Legislative Council information technology and broadcasting panel meeting that the government is aware that RTHK is under pressure, but stressed that the government is not "dark drying" the public broadcaster. He added that the government supports RTHK and wants it to continue to serve the public.

Prosecutions not solution to youth drugs abuse

Security Bureau Principal Assistant Secretary Wong Fuk-loi said prosecuting youngsters who have been found taking drugs is not the most effective measure to tackle the problem. Wong said follow-up measures, such as tracing the sources of the drugs, will be taken. He added that the government will discuss with schools, parents and medical staff on the implementation of drug tests in schools.

MTRC gives small pay increases to staff

The MTRC said most of its staff will get pay rises of between 0.8 percent and 1.2 percent, plus bonus. The MTRC will also pay the 13th month salary to staff. The MTRC said its revenues have been affected by the human swine flu and the economic downturn. The company has implemented cost saving measures, but decided not to lay off staff and cut pay. A spokesman for the company said the pay of management will be frozen. The Coalition to Monitor Public Transport and Utilities said the MTRC should not use pay rises as an excuse for increasing fares.

China Daily - Agencies

(HK Edition 07/14/2009 page1)