Privacy Commissioner defends decision

Outgoing Privacy Commissioner Roderick Woo Bun has denied that his decision not to seek re-appointment is related to criticism from the Director of Audit that Woo had wasted resources. Woo said a six-month audit of any organization would identify areas for improvement. And he also renewed his call for more resources for the commission, expressing the hope his successor would have more energy to continue the fight.

Woo's contract expires in July.

Con-man jailed for collapsed building fraud

A 25-year-old ex-convict was sentenced to eight months in prison for falsely claiming HK$36,000 emergency assistance subsidies as a "Ma Tau Wai victim". Daniel Au Kwok-wai pleaded guilty yesterday to a fraud charge at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court. The court heard that Au went to an emergency aid center after an old building on Ma Tau Wai Road collapsed on January 29, claiming to be a tenant of the building. He was given cash and free accommodation at a transit center.

More aid for dementia patients urged

The Elderly Commission has called for further welfare initiatives to assist elderly dementia patients.

The chairman of the commission, Leong Che-hung, while broadly applauding measures in this year's budget to support elder care, said more effort and more research needs to be applied to the care of dementia patients.

Claudia Lai, associate professor of the School of Nursing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, agrees that there are not sufficient places for patients with serious dementia. There are about 70,000 dementia patients in Hong Kong and Lai estimated at least 25 percent of them are sufficiently advanced to require 24-hour care to prevent them from wandering around and experiencing mishaps.

Mandatory drug tests for unsafe drivers: Poll

Nearly 5 percent of 700 Hong Kong residents polled in a survey last week said friends or relatives have driven a motor vehicle after using drugs. More than 90 percent said police should be authorized to conduct drug tests on drivers suspected of taking illicit drugs, according to a DAB telephone survey.

PolyU financially secure despite loss: President

Polytechnic University president Poon Chung-kwong has said the university is financially secure despite the HK$904 million losses sustained last year. He said gains and losses are normal for any securities investment. The publicly funded institution's financial setback was brought to the fore by an open letter from teaching and administrative staff of the university on Tuesday. According to the open letter, at least half of the losses were due to risky investments.

More special school places provided

The Education Bureau announced yesterday that additional special school places will be provided so that students can extend their years of study if necessary. Normally, students with intellectual disabilities are required to finish their primary and secondary education in 12 years and students with physical disabilities or hearing impairments in 13 years. The measures will be implemented in phases from the 2010/11 school year.

China Daily

(HK Edition 03/05/2010 page1)