Tourism figures give grounds for optimism

The Hong Kong Tourism Board recorded 5.5 million tourist arrivals from January to February 25 this year, for a healthy year-on-year growth of 18 percent. The board predicts visitor arrivals will top 30 million in 2010 - 5.2 percent more than last year. The chairman of the Board, James Tien, says he's optimistic about prospects for the local tourism industry but he anticipates the slow economic recovery in the US and Europe may reduce the number of long-haul visitors. He said at the release of the Tourism Overview 2010 that the board will strengthen promotion of Hong Kong in Shanghai during the coming Shanghai Expo in hopes of attracting more tourists to Hong Kong.

Demolition of damaged tenements

The demolition of two apartment buildings adjacent to the building that collapsed in January killing four people got underway yesterday. The two five-storey tenements, 45G and 45H Ma Tau Wai Road were heavily damaged when building 45J collapsed while renovations were underway on the ground floor. The demolition is part of the redevelopment plan announced last week in the 2010-2011 budget by Financial Secretary John Tsang. Neighboring buildings 45E and 45F will remain barricaded until the completion of the demolition work in about two weeks.

Runners still hospitalized after marathon

Twenty-three runners remain in hospital after the Hong Kong marathon on Sunday morning. The run which drew over 52,000 participants took its toll on 55 runners. The patients still in hospital are between the ages of 32 and 57. Most are recovering from minor heatstroke or dehydration. Many marathoners have expressed the hope the event could be scheduled at a time of year when the weather is not so hot and humid. Experts said it is important for runners to be well prepared so they will not be affected by the adverse weather conditions.

Domestic helpers want to blacklist bad bosses

The Filipino, Indonesian and Thai Concern Group, a foreign domestic helpers group, has called for the creation of a blacklist of employers who under-pay their maids. The group says at least 20 of its members have been exploited, with employers paying them as little as HK$2,000 a month which is only just over half of the minimum wage mandated by law. Susan Rojas, the spokeswoman of the group accused officials of ignoring their concerns.

Rail expropriation issue nears resolution

Almost all the residents of a Yuen Long village have accepted government compensation packages and agreed to leave their homes to make way for a high-speed rail link to Guangzhou, said Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng. She said she hoped all could be relocated by mid-October and said that a proposal to rebuild the village at another location was feasible. Around 200 applications for compensation involving 400 residents from Choi Yuen village were received by Sunday's deadline.

China Daily

(HK Edition 03/02/2010 page1)