Regina Ip drops out of race

Legislative Council member Regina Ip counted herself out of next year's Chief Executive election on Thursday.

The chairwoman of the New People's Party and the Savantas Policy Institute said she had carefully gone over the list of election committee members, and decided she would not have enough support to ensure her candidacy.

She said she made her own choice, stressing nobody had tried to influence her to stay out of the running.

Asked how she will counsel her supporters on how to cast their votes in the election, Ip said she will make her decision after reviewing other candidates' policy platforms, their capability and performance at public debates.

Privacy report slams banks

The Office for Privacy Commissioner of Personal Data accused two banks of privacy violations in a report released on Thursday.

Hang Seng Bank was criticized for keeping records of clients who had declared personal bankruptcy for 99 years though a bankrupt person is usually discharged from bankruptcy four to eight years after the initial declaration. The bank later modified its policy.

Hang Seng was also accused of collecting personal information, including level of education and marital status, from customers.

The bank clarified that customers have not been required to supply that information since 2010.

The report also said Citic Bank International had sold the personal data of 150,000 bank account and credit card holders to insurance companies for direct marketing activities. Citic has changed the practice since it came under investigation.

Kowloon City food festival

A food festival will be held on Saturday at Carpenter Road Park in Kowloon City. Admission is free. It will run from 11 am to 6 pm.

The event is organized by the Kowloon City District Office and sponsored by the Kowloon City District Council.

It is aimed at promoting delicacies from the district as well as local certified organic crops.

More than 30 stalls will be set up at the venue, providing free tasting of Southeast Asian dishes, distinctive Hong Kong snacks and fresh organic fruits and vegetables, as well as offering discounted sales.

Free newspapers create waste

Approximately one fifth of respondents say they discard free newspapers without reading them, a survey conducted by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) has concluded. The findings were released on Thursday.

Among the 1,000 residents interviewed, almost half said they take free newspapers only because they cost no money. The DAB said that free newspapers should be taken on a need basis, and suggested that a reminder asking "please hand it around" be printed on the front page, reducing wastage.

Currently, five different Chinese free newspapers, produce more than 3 million copies a day, for distribution in the local market.

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/16/2011 page1)