Dismissal over paid sick leave

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Friday filed a lawsuit in the District Court on behalf of a man who was allegedly fired because he took paid sick leave for gout and knee pain.

The claimant, surnamed Wong, had landed the job in a restaurant in 2007. He was diagnosed with gout in 2008. But after he spent three days in hospital, his employer told him not to take paid sick leave again and later fired him.

EOC said in a statement many employees, who are forced to take leave because of their disabilities and illnesses, are shabbily treated or even dismissed by their employers in various pretexts.

Record HFMD cases in 10 years

Center for Health Protection (CHP) has received reports of more than 700 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) this year, the highest number in the past decade, said CHP controller Thomas Tsang Friday.

He said every two or three years the disease gets widespread. He warned that the disease could again return with a vengeance in November and December.

Diocese disown funeral company

The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong issued a statement Friday to clarify that it has never provided funeral service through a company. The diocese said it has received enquiries about an advertisement on a fee-charging Catholic funeral service. But the diocese has no ties with any commercial organization in terms of funeral arrangement, except the Catholic Cemeteries. And no fees or commissions will be charged for funeral service, which is offered in individual churches.

Old woman in hurry hit by truck

A 65-year-old woman sustained head injuries after she was hit by a truck when she tried to catch a bus that was pulling into a stop.

The accident took place around noon at Po Tat Estate in Sau Mau Ping Road. The woman seemingly in a hurry to cross the road to catch the bus was believed to have failed to notice the speeding truck.

Hairy crabs pass safety muster

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) conducted chemical and microbiological tests on 115 samples of hairy crabs sold in Hong Kong in a seasonal food surveillance project. The results were found to be satisfactory.

The chemical tests included veterinary drug residues, metallic contamination, synthetic hormones, coloring substances and oxalic acid, while the microbiological tests covered parasites.

Yau Ma Tei zoning plan amended

The approved Yau Ma Tei outline zoning plan has been amended to impose building height restrictions for various zones to guide future development and redevelopment in the district, the Town Planning Board (TPB) said Friday.

Other amendments include the specification of building setback requirements and the designation of zero-build zones to allow better air ventilation, and the rezoning of various sites to reflect completed development/as-built conditions on the sites, or the planning intention for the sites, said the TPB.

The public can make written representation in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the TPB by December 29.

China Daily

(HK Edition 10/30/2010 page1)