Action aims at Yuen Long gangs

Police have arrested 93 people in anti-triad operations in Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai.

The operation followed a three-month investigation and intelligence analysis. More than 120 police officers raided multiple locations on Thursday and Friday. They arrested 67 men and 26 women, aged between 15 and 56, suspected of drug offenses, possessing weapons, operating gambling dens and selling alcohol without licenses. Police believe the majority of those arrested are members of two triad gangs.

So Chun-Kwong, chief inspector of the Yuen Long District Police, said the operation has effectively cut the income sources of triad gangs and curbed their activities in the area.

Planners move to protect wetlands

A large tract of wetland and an ancient Hakka Village in Sai Kung, will be given statutory protection, the Town Planning Board announced on Friday.

The board cited the area's high conservation and landscape value and the rural settings in a tdraft development permission plan for Pak Sha O, published by the board.

The area, covering about 33.27 hectares, is surrounded by the Sai Kung West Country Park. A spokesman for the board said about 1.38 hectares is zoned "village type development" to reflect the existing recognized villages.

The remaining 31.89 hectares of the area is designated for "unspecified use" to give statutory protection to the area to establish the appropriate land uses in the course of preparing an Outline Zoning Plan.

Pals of escaping teen deny charges

Five defendants involved in a rare attempt to spring a 15-year-old girl from courtroom custody, denied the charges including escaping from lawful custody, aiding and abetting and assaulting police officers in the District Court on Friday.

The court earlier heard that the girl, who was in detention in a juvenile home, called her boyfriend to enlist his help to escape from the institution. When the girl was escorted to the Tuen Mun court on September 28 by two policewomen, the team attacked the policewomen and tried to help the girl to flee in a taxi. The policewomen gave chase and stopped the girl. The abettors were caught separately.

A trial is set for late January, when 24 witnesses, including 14 police officers, will give evidence. The defendants were remanded in custody.

Carrie Lam on leave Dec 12-22

Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam will be away from Hong Kong on vacation from December 12 to 22.

During Lam's absence, the Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing will act as chief secretary for administration.

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/08/2012 page1)