Yeung denied travel freedom

The Eastern Magistrates' Court on Thursday denied an overseas travel application by Carson Yeung Ka-sing, owner of Birmingham City FC.

Yeung, facing five counts of money laundering involving HK$721 million, told the court he needed to travel to Birmingham on Saturday to deal with the football club's business affairs.

The tycoon, who is free on HK$7 million bail, has surrendered his travel documents and is required to report to police every week.

Defense counsel argued that Yeung is not a flight risk, because he is well-known both in Hong Kong and Britain and has a family as well as extensive business ties in Hong Kong.

He proposed increasing bail to HK$8 million.

The prosecution objected on grounds that the charges against Yeung involve a massive amount of money and the accused can well manage the soccer club through acting chairman Peter Pannu.

Acting Principal Magistrate David Dufton denied Yeung's application.

The case will be transferred to the District Court in late August.

Suspect in car chase netted

Police have captured a 27-year-old man who allegedly injured two police officers and whose vehicle collided with six vehicles during a wild car chase in Yuen Long on Wednesday.

The police charged that the suspect opened his car door abruptly, and knocked a policewoman off her motorcycle when she stopped his car for a checkup in Shap Pat Heung Road in Yuen Long around 5 pm on Wednesday.

In the ensuing attempt to escape from pursuing police, the fleeing car struck six vehicles along Ming Kum Road.

A second motorcycle policeman was injured trying intercept the fugitive.

The suspect abandoned his car in a parking lot near Po Tin Estate, where his car also toppled a container.

The police arrested the man on early Thursday after an overnight search.

CE praises new office building

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen gave the thumbs-up for the new government headquarters at the Tamar site as he returned from his holiday to begin work in his new office on Thursday.

After a morning prayer meeting with government officials, Tsang made the thumbs-up gesture to a group of journalists when asked how he felt about his new office.

He also renamed his Facebook page (ceo.gov.hk/fb) to "Chief Executive's Office, HKSAR", from the previous "Upper Albert Road".

The profile picture on the page was changed to a photo of the new government building.

Tsang said the new office building can accommodate more people, is more spacious and has better facilities.

He added that he believes the new premises will help improve working efficiency and internal communication.

China Daily

(HK Edition 08/12/2011 page1)