Subsidy fund for island ferry lines

The government has proposed a HK$120 million subsidy fund for six main ferry lines serving outlying islands.

A spokesperson of the Transport and Housing Bureau said that the subsidy will make up half the difference between the fare increase percentage and the rate of inflation. For example, if the fare for a certain ferry line increases by HK$5 and inflation accounts for HK$1, the government subsidy will pay for HK$2, so the fare to passengers will increase only HK$3.

Funeral planned for quake hero

The sister of Wong Fuk-wing, the Hong Kong truck driver who died while trying to save others in the Qinghai earthquake, said his remains will be cremated in early May, though the date hasn't be fixed.

She said the family understands the public's wish to pay tribute and is discussing arrangements with the World Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom.

Man jailed for blackmailing boy

A 46-year-old man was sentenced Monday to 18 months in jail for blackmailing a teenage boy with a clandestine video.

The District Court heard earlier that the transport worker followed a 14-year-old student on MTR and secretly shot a video of him standing behind a girl student in January. Threatening to go to police with the evidence of what looks like indecent assault, he demanded the boy to pay him HK$28,000. He also brought the boy to a park and beat him. The boy later told his mother, who called police.

Mother skips infanticide hearing

A 17-year-old woman who was charged with infanticide did not attend the court session in Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Court Monday because of her physical condition.

She was arrested Friday in connection with the discovery of a dead baby in Tsuen Wan. The baby was found inside a black recycling bag in the rubbish bin at the junction of Sha Tsui Road and Ham Tin Street and was certified dead at hospital.

A police investigation determined that the woman, a waitress, had delivered the baby in the toilet of her boyfriend's flat in Po Shek Mansion on Ham Tin Street early that morning. She put the infant into a recycling bag and dumped it in the rubbish bin.

Vision problems mismanaged

A survey of the University of Hong Kong found that most middle-aged people use the wrong methods for dealing with age-related vision degradation.

Among 510 people aged above 40 who were surveyed last month, 70 percent of those suffering from presbyopia used the wrong methods such as wearing eyeglasses without a prescription from an optician or using magnifying glasses to read.

Doctors said wearing eyeglasses without a prescription may cause headache or eye discomfort.

Govt urges voter registration

The 2010 Voter Registration campaign was kicked off Monday. Eligible persons who have not registered are urged to sign up before the registration deadline on May 17.

According to the electoral law, newly registered electors can vote in future Legislative Council and District Council elections only after the publication of the final registers of electors in July. They cannot vote in the Legislative Council by-election in May.

China Daily

(HK Edition 04/20/2010 page1)