IN BRIEF (Page 1)
Updated: 2011-08-24 08:45
(HK Edition)
|
|||||||||
HKZM Bridge appeal opens
The appeal of a judgment by the Court of First Instance that set back the work on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge for several months opened on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal.
The hearing was scheduled to last for three days.
The Environmental Protection Department filed the appeal against the lower court judgment in regard to an environmental impact assessment of the bridge project.
The Court of First Instance had ruled that the environmental assessment that had been undertaken failed to include a baseline study of the air quality, which was supposed to be an evaluation of the air quality in the future in the event that the bridge were not to be built.
Senior counsel Benjamin Yu, who represents the government, pointed out on Tuesday that the environmental impact assessment report submitted by the government had included an air quality assessment before the project was to be carried out.
He argued that it would be difficult to assess the future air quality given the many factors involved.
1,400 escalator mishaps in 2010
Nearly 1,400 escalator accidents were reported in 2010, but only 13 involved mechanical problems.
Only two escalator accidents involving mechanical problems have been recorded so far in 2011, according to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
Most of the incidents were related to human error, such as accidental falls, the department said on Tuesday.
The department is launching an escalator contractors' performance rating system.
Under the demerit point system, a contractor will receive 2-15 demerit points for non-compliance with relevant codes.
A warning letter will be issued when a contractor accumulates more than 12 demerit points in a year.
Contractors violating the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance will face prosecution and possible revocation of their licenses, the department said.
Acid attack in Family Court
A 56-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly throwing acid at her ex-husband after a hearing in the Family Court on Tuesday morning.
The 62-year-old man suffered serious injuries to his face and chest.
Also injured was a 26-year-old female law firm clerk, whose face was hit by drops of acid.
Police said the estranged couple had received a ruling on division of assets and alimony on Tuesday morning.
As the two were leaving the court, the woman suddenly took out a bottle of corrosive liquid hidden in her backpack and threw the contents at her ex-husband.
101 new HIV cases in Q2
Another 101 cases of HIV have been reported in the second quarter of 2011, slightly lower than the number detected during the first quarter, said Dr Wong Ka-hing of the Centre for Health Protection on Tuesday.
Thirty-one of the infections were contracted through male homosexual contact.
China Daily
(HK Edition 08/24/2011 page1)