Judicial review over fruit money

Federation of Trade Union (FTU) lawmaker Wong Kwok-kin has threatened to file a judicial review concerning the Old-Age Allowance if the Social Welfare Department refuses to relax the restriction requiring that eligible applicants remain in Hong Kong for at least 90 days every year.

Speaking on a radio show Monday, Wong said he was assisting several senior citizens who usually resided on the mainland to apply for the so-called "fruit-money payments". If those applications are rejected, a judicial review will be launched to challenge the 90 day regulation.

Last week, the High Court struck down the requirement for Comprehensive Social Service Assistance applicants to live continuously in the city for a year.

Tai Po drug testing ends

The Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing in Tai Po District launched last December has been completed, with more than 12,400 students participating.

From among those, 2,495 students were randomly selected to be screened for drugs. Only 1,975 students actually were tested. Not a single positive test result was obtained.

A professional research organization has been commissioned to assess the design, implementation and effectiveness of the scheme. The organization will also study other local and overseas experiences in school drug testing, and will suggest appropriate refinements and revisions to the scheme. The study is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.

MICE visitors up 28% over 2009

Hong Kong received some 460,000 Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) visitors during the first four months of this year, representing 28 percent growth over the same period of 2009.

Hong Kong faced stiff competition resulting from rapid development of tourism on the Chinese mainland, as well as from Macao and Singapore, the target markets and strengths of each area are different, said Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Anthony Lau.

He expressed confidence in Hong Kong's MICE business, noting that 520 exhibitions and conferences will be held in Hong Kong from this year to 2013.

Food poisoning of 26 suspected

Twenty-six people fell sick from suspected food poisoning after eating food bought at Three Virtues Vegetarian Restaurant on Jordan Road.

The victims, aged between two and eighty, said they experienced symptoms including vomiting several hours after eating at the restaurant. Most have recovered. A 71-year-old woman was kept in hospital for observation. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department personnel have taken samples of food from the restaurant for testing.

Alleged acid splash incident

A woman and her nine-year-old daughter were injured when the woman's husband allegedly threw acid drain cleaner at them during a quarrel.

The incident took place in Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin, at around 9 am Monday. The mother and daughter were taken to hospital for treatment. The man was arrested on suspicion of assault.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/29/2010 page1)