'Indoors' ruled 50% enclosed

The Court of Final Appeal overturned an earlier High Court ruling on what constitutes indoor smoking. The ruling dashed hopes for bars and upstairs cafes to re-establish smoking areas by renovating premises.

The appeal stems from the conviction of Ho Yau-yin, who was caught with a lighted cigarette in an area enclosed by curtains at a Sham Tseng cafeteria. The conviction was quashed in High Court, which ruled that "indoors" means an area enclosed on all four sides under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. The Justice Department appealed the decision, arguing the an area is considered "indoors" if it's 50 percent enclosed, except for any window or door. The top court upheld the "50 percent" standard.

The Tobacco Control Office welcomed the ruling, saying it will set in motion prosecutions of more than 180 similar indoor smoking cases.

European travelers stranded in HK

Michael Li, Executive Director of the Federation of Hotel Owners, estimated 8,000 to 10,000 European tourists are stranded in Hong Kong because of flight closures since an Icelandic volcano eruption. Some cash-strapped travelers even had to seek assistance from consulates of their countries.

A Cathay Pacific spokesperson said at least 10,000 passengers are waiting to board European-bound planes. It will take as many as three weeks for all of them to find flights home. The spokesperson stressed tickets holders should not go to the airport unless they have confirmed a seat.

Energy site under study

The government will decide the site for a waste-to-energy plant in the second half of the year, said Secretary of Environment Edward Yau Wednesday.

In the first phase of the plan to develop integrated waste management facilities, a power plant that can treat 3,000 tons of waste daily and supply about 460 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the power grid each year will be built.

Two potential sites - at Shek Kwu Chau or Tsang Tsui Ahs Lagoons - have been identified. The study will be completed in the second half, Yau said, adding that he expects the construction to begin in the mid-2010s.

Water supply remains steady

Climate change may make Southwest China drier but the impact on the fresh water supply to Hong Kong is minor, according to Secretary for Development Carrie Lam.

In a response to a legislator's enquiry, Lam said the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong accounts for only 3 percent of the river's average annual flow volume.

Hong Kong is expected to enjoy a steady supply of fresh water, until 2030. Seventy percent of the supply comes from Dongjiang. The remainder is supplied from local surface water.

Man jailed over false accusation

A man who falsely accused four customs officers of corruption was sentenced to four months in prison at the Eastern Magistrates' Court Wednesday.

Ip Ming-yiu, 53, was caught smuggling cigarettes at the Lok Ma Chau Border Control Point last year. In retaliation, he told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that the four custom officers were taking bribes from smuggling suspects. The ICAC conducted an investigation but determined that Ip had lied.

Ip entered a guilty plea to a charge of knowingly making a false report to an ICAC officer.

China Daily

(HK Edition 04/22/2010 page1)