Bookings for non-locals halted

The Hospital Authority announced on Friday that it suspended bookings for pregnant mainland women hoping to give birth in local public hospitals if their expected delivery dates fall between now and the end of the year.

The authority said the measure is designed to ensure adequate obstetric services for local expectant mothers.

About 40,000, or almost half of, newborns in the city in 2010 were born to mainland mothers.

'Mainland vegetables safe'

Hong Kong has contacted the mainland's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Guangdong provincial government over the minute traces of radiation found in vegetables.

Mainland authorities pledged a thorough inspection of vegetables supplied to Hong Kong, while Hong Kong will carry out its own screening, Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said on Friday.

Chow said the radiation level of mainland vegetables is so small that it poses no health risks.

Japan will remain the primary contamination source but Hong Kong has already banned food imports from five prefectures of Japan and requires certificates for imports from other areas.

Decontaminated ship berths

A Japanese ship containing elevated level of radiation in Xiamen was allowed to berth at Kwai Chung Container Terminal Friday morning after it passed a local testing.

Elevated level of radiation was detected on the ship's deck as well as on the outside surfaces of some of its containers when the ship, the Mol Presence, reached Xiamen, Fujian province on March 22.

The ship, owned by the Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, has since returned to Kobe in Japan for a clean-up.

The shipping company provided documents to Hong Kong, showing that the radiation level detected on the ship does not pose significant health risks.

Crime officers workload eased

The police adopted a "criminal investigation unit" system this month to alleviate the workload of crime officers.

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, police said each police district will have such a unit consisting of eight teams working on four shifts.

For each shift, one team will work on new cases and the others will continue with older cases.

The police are also considering measures to increase upward mobility among crime officers.

Restraining order over protest

Three Lehman Brothers minibond investors contested in the High Court Friday a restraining order that forbids them from protesting outside the Bank of China Tower in Central.

The Bank of China (Hong Kong) earlier filed a restraining order to stop the three from staging protests, harassing staff and displaying banners bearing inflammatory slogans.

Appearing in the court without legal representation, the three argued they have a right to protest in public places.

Judge Arjan Sakrani advised them to consider taking legal aid service because they must bear the legal costs if they lose the case.

The judge also reminded them that a temporary restraining order is in force.

China Daily

(HK Edition 04/09/2011 page1)