Retrial ban may be relaxed for some crimes

In a consultation paper issued yesterday, the Law Reform Commission recommended relaxing the ban on "double jeopardy" that prevents a retrial for the same crime after a verdict.The new flexible rule would apply only to exceptional circumstances.

Currently people who have been acquitted of a crime cannot be prosecuted twice for the same offense.

The consultation period ends on May 31.

HK rich among 2010 Forbes billionaires

Forbes announced its annual billionaires list yesterday. Several Hong Kong businessmen made their marks.

Li Ka-shing, Chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa, ranked 14th on the list, with a total wealth of $21 billion.

Lee Shau-kee, Chairman and Managing Director of Henderson Land Development, followed close with a rank of 22nd for his $18.5 billion fortune.

The Kwok family of Sun Hung Kai ranked 28th on the list for its $17 billion worth.

Foreigner charged with trafficking 1.8 kg of cocaine

A foreign man arrested by Hong Kong Customs for the transnational drug trafficking of 1.8 kg of cocaine worth about HK$1.5 million appeared at the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts yesterday.

The 37-year-old man, who claimed to be a businessman, arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Bogota, Colombia, via Moscow. Customs officers at the airport intercepted him for baggage examination and found three packs of cocaine inside a hidden compartment of his suitcase.

Mainland-bound lizards stopped in Lantau

Marine police intercepted around 300 endangered lizards, commonly called water monitors, at Lantau island Tuesday night.

The precious lizards, worth a total value of HK$1.15 million, were transported to Hong Kong by air from Malaysia and Thailand. Police believe the lizards were to be smuggled to the mainland for human consumption.

Don't blame gas for automobiles' stalling: EMSD

A test result announced yesterday showed that the quality of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is not to blame for the mysterious incidence of local automobiles' stalling after being refueled with LPG earlier this year.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has collected LPG samples from 14 different gas stations and tanks for analysis.

Local athletes honored as region's best

Hong Kong cyclist Steven Wong and other athletes were honored as the region's outstanding athletes yesterday.

Wong, who won the first gold medal for Hong Kong in 2009 at the 5th East Asian Games, received the most votes.

Other athletes honored were squash player Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin, windsurfing winner Vicky Chan Wai-kei, bowler Wu Siu-hong and Hannah Wilson who took the gold medal for Hong Kong in the swimming competition at the World University Games.

Ng On-yee, winner of the Women's World Table Tennis Championship received the honor for the first time.

Also nominated were two athletes with intellectual disabilities: table tennis player Lai Wai-ling and swimmer Leung Shu-hang.

China Daily

(HK Edition 03/12/2010 page1)