Brakes cited in escalator fault

Overheating caused smoke to pour from an escalator at MTR's Mei Foo Station on Thursday and the issue is not related to a design problem, said Secretary for Development Carrie Lam in response to a legislator's enquiry on Wednesday.

Lam said the incident resulted from failure on the part of the auxiliary brake system, whose friction led to overheating.

The Mei Foo escalator is of the same model as the escalator involved in the fatal mishap in Beijing on July 5.

Lam said 80 such escalators are in operation in Hong Kong, including 78 in MTR stations.

All have been examined and found safe, she said.

Index of seniors' happiness: 59.5

On a scale of 0-100, Hong Kong senior citizens' happiness index is 59.5, according to a survey conducted by the City University of Hong Kong in March.

More than 400 people aged between 60 and 90 were asked nine types of questions, such as whether they still feel capable or young, in the survey whose results was released on Wednesday.

The index was calculated according to their answers.

The survey found the top wishes of the elderly are gathering with friends, traveling with spouses and contributing to society.

The wishes went unfulfilled mainly because of the difficulty of taking care of oneself, low education and low income, the survey found.

Intake of iodine far from enough

Hong Kong adults' median dietary iodine intake has been estimated at 44 g per day, not even half of the 100 g recommended by the World Health Organization.

The estimate was based on a risk assessment study released by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) on Wednesday.

The findings also mean some 93 percent of the Chinese population had an iodine intake below the required amount.

The CFS suggested citizens consume a variety of high-iodine foods, including seaweed, seafood, egg and egg products, milk and milk products.

The food groups with lower levels of iodine are meat and poultry; cereals and grain products; legumes and vegetables.

Police probe racy photos

Police are investigating a set of photos portraying policewomen striking inappropriate poses while wearing uniforms.

The photos, with one showing a policewoman pointing a weapon at the head of a colleague and another showing a policewoman lifting her skirt to show her legs, were first posted online and later picked up by local print media.

Police said that there are strict rules about the use of weapons.

An investigation will be launched on the circumstances under which these photos are taken.

Disciplinary actions would be taken if anyone was found to have violated the rules.

China Daily

(HK Edition 07/14/2011 page1)