PhD accused of extorting lover

An economics PhD at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to extort HK$6.3 million from a man by threatening to expose "intimate images" of their past association. The trial of Cheung Ka-wo, 27, is expected to last eight days.

The prosecution alleges that Cheung began a homosexual relationship in 2007 with a supervisor of a secondary school Cheung once attended. Cheung allegedly secretly taped their sexual activities and used photos captured from the footage to demand HK$6.3 million from the victim. He also is accused of using the photos to force a religious organization to transfer the victim to a different post. The man complained to police after paying Cheung HK$920,000.

Toilet arsonist gets prison

A transport worker who burned objects in men's bathrooms inside McDonald's restaurants has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison at District Court Wednesday.

Chan Chan-kuen, 32, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of arson. He said he committed the acts to relieve personal "pressure." Court heard that he burned a tissue paper holder in one McDonald's bathroom and a rubbish bin in another on March 12. He gave himself up to police after the second act of arson.

Home-alone boy safe and unhurt

A four-year-old boy left alone at home banged on a neighbor's door, seeking help Wednesday morning.

The boy woke up at 8 am in the apartment in Cheuk Ming Mansion in Tai Ho Road in Tsuen Wan and found nobody home. His neighbor alerted police. The boy's grandmother accompanied the boy to hospital for examination. No injuries were detected.

The boy's parents were also located later, but no charges were laid. The police listed the incident as a child neglect case.

300,000 more flu doses ordered

The Department of Health plans to order 300,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccines, which will provide protection against the human swine flu, said Director of Health Lam Ping-yan Wednesday.

The vaccines Hong Kong acquired because of the 2009 A(H1N1) influenza outbreak will expire in October and will be destroyed. But Lam said he didn't consider this a waste, since the government had to fulfill its responsibility to protect the public.

He said the department will study the reasons for the low take-up rate for the human swine flu vaccines.

Tourists free to buy formula

Hong Kong will not restrict mainlanders from leaving with large quantities of baby formula, because the trade always reacts swiftly and flexibly to changes in demand and supply in overseas and local markets, said Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Wednesday.

Responding to a lawmaker's enquiry that there is a 10-20 percent shortage in the supply of baby formula in Hong Kong, as estimated by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacy Limited, Chow said the bureau started liaising with suppliers and encouraging them to increase imports since the melamine incident in 2008. The Consumer Council is watching prices of baby formula in the market and disseminating consumer information.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/10/2010 page1)