City's surplus hits HK$23.6b

Hong Kong recorded a HK$23.6 billion surplus in its Balance of Payments account in the year's third quarter, representing 4.8 percent of gross domestic product, according to figures released by the Census & Statistics Department on Thursday.

A current-account surplus of HK$33.7 billion was recorded, with a net outflow of financial non-reserve assets amounting to HK$54.5 billion.

Holiday passenger flow to hit 7.78m

The Immigration Department on Thursday estimated passenger flow at border control points during the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday will reach 7.78 million. That represents an 11 percent increase over last year.

Some 70 percent of travelers are expected to go through land control points. The busiest Lo Wu is estimated to see an average of 305,000 passengers each day.

Christmas Day will be the busiest day for outbound traffic and New Year's Day, the busiest for incoming traffic, said Assistant Director Chan Man-lang.

Grenade disposal in Stanley

Police bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on Thursday morning on seven World War II grenades found near the Wilson Trail in Stanley, Hong Kong Island.

Police were alerted to the discovery of explosives at a spot some five meters away from the hiking trail in The Twins in Tai Tam Country Park on Wednesday. The grenades had become covered with soil.

Jimmy Yuen Hon-wing, senior bomb disposal officer of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, said the firing pins of the grenades were not functioning. But there were some 65 grams of explosive in each grenade and they could have exploded if struck hard.

He said he believes the grenades were left by the Japanese army engaged in the battle with British and Canadian garrisons in Stanley 70 years ago.

'Leung's email' contains virus

A fraudulent email in the name of Chief Executive candidate Leung Chun-ying has been circulating online.

The email, from the address of cy_leung@cyleung2012.com contains an attachment, which appears to be an electronic Christmas card. It is actually a computer virus.

Leung's campaign office issued a statement that the email has no connection with Leung or the office. It has made a report to police.

CE to visit Beijing over Christmas

Chief Executive Donald Tsang will visit Beijing from December 25 to 27 to brief State leaders on Hong Kong's latest economic, social and political developments, the Government Information Service Department said on Thursday.

Tsang will meet with officials from the National Development & Reform Commission and the People's Bank of China.

He will return to Hong Kong on Dec 28. Chief Secretary Stephen Lam will be the Acting Chief Executive while he is away.

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/23/2011 page1)