270,000 children live in poverty

Hong Kong has 270,000 children living in poverty, according to an analysis by the Department of Asian and Policy Studies of Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIED). The estimate was based on collected data.

With the poverty line loosely defined as an income level lower than half of the median household income, Associate Head of the department Chou Kee-Lee said that analysis of the data gathered in last year's census indicated 26 percent of the city's children are living in poverty.

Chou said the government should revise its welfare policies that extend Comprehensive Social Security Assistance to immigrants only after they have lived in the city for seven years. He said overseas studies showed new immigrants usually claim welfare in the initial adjustment period, pointing out that denying welfare to immigrants has long-term effects on children.

Self-developed GIS tool wins award

The Planning Department's first self-developed geographic information system (GIS)-based Site Search Tool has earned a prize at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards 2012. The award was given in the e-government category at a prize presentation ceremony held in Brunei on Dec 5.

One of the main roles of the department is to identify suitable sites for various types of land use, such as residential, commercial or public facilities. This self-developed search tool is built on a GIS model and a specially designed algorithm. The aim is to help execute this complicated exercise in order to select potential sites that meet user requirements.

The department started developing the GIS-based Site Search Tool last year. The tool has been widely used internally since early 2012. The tool was granted the Best Public Service Application Grand Award and the Best Public Service Application (Small Scale Project) Gold Medal at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2012.

10 percent off on 2nd MTR trip

MTR Corporation's "10 percent same-day second-trip discount" will start on New Year's Eve.

Under the concessionary offer, valid till June 30, 2013, passengers can enjoy a 10 percent discount on their second trip for every two trips taken on the same MTR service on the same day using the same Octopus cards. But the discount doesn't apply to trips with Airport Express, MTR Feeder buses or first-class cars of East Rail Line.

While some passengers said the current concession of "one free ride for every 10 rides" is of greater value, some said the new scheme is more direct and convenient.

Suspicious oil deal unlicensed

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that Wing Hing Oil Factory, which was suspected of mixing "gutter oil" from the mainland with edible oil and selling it to restaurants, does not have a food business license.

FEHD staff inspected the factory in Wing King Industrial Building, Kwai Chung, on Thursday, when a Chinese-language newspaper made the allegation in a report. The factory was found to be locked. FEHD has taken samples from oil drums stored in the corridor for testing. FEHD said the factory operator will be prosecuted if there's evidence of any breach of sanitation or food safety laws.

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/14/2012 page1)