Demonstrator leaps off bridge

A demonstrator jumped from the deck of a footbridge in Ngau Chi Wan Friday, during a protest against new wet market tenancy contracts. The man landed on a rescue cushion placed by firemen and suffered no apparent injuries.

Three members from an alliance of public market stall operators climbed onto the bridge to hang a banner opposing new contracts introduced by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at the footbridge outside the Ngau Chi Wan Public Market. Firemen persuaded the other two to climb down from the bridge.

Wong Chai-wai, the president of the alliance, said many wet market vendors are displeased with the new tenancy contracts. In protest, vendors from six markets in Eastern Kowloon say they will sell goods in the street, instead of inside the markets, from Sunday to next Saturday.

Probation order for cruel mother

A 12-month probation order and psychological counseling were ordered for a woman who used sticks, scissors and needles to discipline her daughter.

Chan Foo-ha has earlier pleaded guilty at the Kowloon Magistracy to one count of ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person. The court heard that Chan who has a history of mental illness lived on welfare payouts with her two daughters, aged nine and five., During her application for public estate housing, she admitted to a social worker that she had beaten her older daughter with sticks and clothes hangers, pricked her with needles and stabbed her with scissors to punish her for not doing homework or lying.

Privacy concern over Octopus

Privacy Commissioner Roderick Woo has expressed concern over the collection and use of personal data through Octopus cards, which are held by more than 2 million people.

Speaking on a radio show Friday, he said he believed it's necessary to look into what kind of information that is being recorded when people use the payment cards and whether the information is being swapped among companies. Octopus Holdings responded that measures are in place to protect personal data.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data is also investigating Hong Kong Disneyland's Ticket Tag system, which allows annual pass holders to enter by scanning their right index finger. A Disneyland spokesperson said that the company will cooperate with the investigation, adding that what is scanned by Ticket Tag is actually not a fingerprint, but 50 points on a finger and the distances between them.

Free HK karate events coming

The 10th AKF Junior & Cadet Karate Championship 2010 will take place from August 5 to 8 in Hong Kong, with the participation of more than 400 players aged between 14 and 21 from 25 countries and regions.

Speaking at a press conference Friday, Chairman of the Asian Karatedo Federation (AKF) Chang Kuang Huei expressed confidence in the ultimate success of the events to be held at multiple venues, saying the Hong Kong government has injected a large amount of resources and support. Free admission will be offered at the event.

China Daily

(HK Edition 05/29/2010 page1)