Subdivided flats a thorny issue

The Housing Department received 2,890 complaints about subdivided flats between 2005 and 2009. The complaints resulted in 85 removal orders, issued mainly because of water seepage and structural problems due to partitioning of large flats into smaller ones for sublet.

A document prepared by the Development Department pointed out that the enforcement of building safety regulations on subdivided flats is complicated, because it's difficult to define what is a subdivided flat and what will be the likely impact on people who need this type of housing.

Jail for attack on co-workers

A security guard who attacked three co-workers over a dispute at work before threatening suicide was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison at the District Court Tuesday.

The court heard that Lau Yuk-sing, 56, had worked as a senior security guard in the luxury apartment compound Caldecott in Cheung Sha Wan but had had quarrels with three other guards under his supervision. Wielding a wrecking bar, he charged into the compound around midnight on August 6, 2009, striking all three of his victims on the head. Lau called police a few hours later, admitting the attack and declaring he intended to jump from a bridge. Police later found him unconscious. Lau remained comatose for almost one month and became wheelchair-bound afterward.

Handing down sentence Tuesday, judge Stephen John Geiser said Lau suffered from minor depression. Still, Lau had no excuse to attack his colleagues unprovoked, said the judge.

8 years for air gun bank heist

A jobless man who robbed a bank by brandishing an air gun was sentenced to eight years in prison at the High Court Tuesday.

The court heard that Au Wai-hon, 49, held up the Standard Chartered Bank outlet in a Kwai Chung industrial building armed with the air gun and two knives on December 23 last year. He made away with HK$76,500 but was caught by police, with the weapons and money still on him.

Judge Patrick Li said though the air gun couldn't inflict serious harm, it is still a threat to the public because police may have opened fire to subdue Au.

Minibus hits van in road test

Nine people were injured in a collision of a minibus and a light goods vehicle driven by a woman taking her road test Tuesday.

The accident occurred at around 9 am on Cornwall Street near the junction of Nam Cheong Street in Kowloon Tong. The minibus driver, seven passengers on the minibus and the Transport Department licensing officer were taken to hospital for treatment.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the 43-year-old woman driving the light goods vehicle, but her blood alcohol level fell within the legal limit. Police is still investigating the cause of the accident.

Father arrested for hitting son

A 32-year-old father, who allegedly beat and kicked his 11-year-old son in an attempt to discipline the boy, was arrested for child abuse.

The man's wife called police at around midnight Tuesday to report the attack at the couple's home in Heng Yuet House, Heng On Estate in Ma On Shan. Injuries were found on the boy's face and wrist.

China Daily

(HK Edition 07/21/2010 page1)