Supervisor jailed for staff loans

The Fanling Magistrates' Court has sentenced a former Health Surveillance Supervisor of the Department of Health to three months' imprisonment for soliciting and accepting a total of HK$180,000 in unauthorized loans from his subordinates.

Lee Wing-wai, 42, had earlier pled guilty to 31 counts of soliciting and accepting monetary advantages as a government officer.

The court heard that from December 2008 to May 2009, during his time as a direct supervisor of eight Health Surveillance assistants at the Man Kam To Port Health Office, Lee asked them, on 29 separate occasions, for loans ranging from HK$470 to HK$20,000. To justify his need for the loans, Lee told his subordinates that he was having financial difficulties because of his business expenses on the mainland. He told them he needed the money to pay his bills, including phone and rent, to feed his son and repay creditors.

Bacterial meningitis strikes woman

The Centre for Health Protection is investigating the first confirmed case of meningococcal meningitis diagnosed in Hong Kong this year. The victim, a 60-year-old woman living in Kowloon's Mei Foo estate, developed a headache, confusion and flu-like symptoms on March 16. Two days later she was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital with a fever. Her condition is unstable.

The victim had not traveled recently. Meningococcal meningitis is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream and meninges. Meningococcus bacteria are spread by direct contact with the nose or throat discharge of an infected person. The incubation period can last two to 10 days, but is usually three to four days.

Disabled shine, raise funds

The Social Welfare Department and fashion brand Quiksilver will launch the Let Them Shine Charity T-shirt Collection today, selling designs created by disabled people to raise funds for charity.

The event will raise awareness on the plight of the disabled, and show that they, too, have valuable abilities, such as perseverance and creativity, which are useful to society. The organizations hope that their joint efforts will help promote work opportunities for people with disabilities.

Since its 2009 inauguration, the competition has received 200 designs from disabled people, all of them creative and rich in skill. The judges selected 15 winning designs, which were evaluated on the elements of theme, creativity and overall image.

When they purchase the T-shirts at Quiksilver outlets, customers are entitled to a free Let Them Shine CD by pop singer GiGi Leung, and a discounted T-shirt she designed.

Race for land and loans

The Education Bureau has launched a new round of applications under the Land Grant and Start-up Loan schemes. Sites are now available at Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin, with a development potential area of 21,500 square meters; Kwong Sin Street, Siu Lek Yuen, with 11,200; and Police School Road, Wong Chuk Hang, with 23,000.

The bureau announced Monday that a more diversified higher education sector will provide students with more opportunities and choices in pursuing higher education. The application deadline is August 31.

China Daily

(HK Edition 03/23/2010 page1)