Redevelopment proposal revised

The Planning Department has revised its redevelopment proposal for Queensway Plaza in Admiralty, reducing the height by three meters so that Tsim Sha Tsui's view of the Peak is not affected. Under the new proposal, the redeveloped Queensway Plaza will have 48 floors, instead of 50. And the hotel part has been scrapped so the new building will feature commercial and office space only. The Town Planning Board will discuss the new proposal on Friday.

EMSTF revenue rose last year

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (EMSTF), the trading arm of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, recorded revenue of HK$5.49 billion last year, representing a slight increase over the previous year. The return on revenue remains at 5.3 percent. "Despite its satisfactory performance, the EMSTF is facing pressure from a shortage of skilled labor, increase in the operating cost and the savings plans by client departments for reducing operating expenditure in the coming years," said EMSTF General Manager and Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Frank Chan. Chan has pledged a series of measures to enhance productivity, such as wider adoption of advanced technology and strengthening of knowledge management.

Public views on MPF sought

The Commission on Poverty will launch a six-month public consultation on retirement protection in December, including the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) offsetting arrangement, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said on Wednesday. The proposed abolition of the offsetting mechanism allows accrued benefits derived from employer contributions to the MPF scheme to be used to offset severance or long-service payments due to the employee. But this has met with strong objections from the business community because of the likely financial burden for employers. Cheung urged both sides to consider the matter from a holistic point of view and be sympathetic and accommodating.

Young speedster is arrested

A 24-year-old from Chongqing has been arrested for allegedly speeding through Lok Ma Chau Control Point on Saturday. The police said that the man drove his black Mustang at high speed through both the mainland and Hong Kong checkpoints at Lok Ma Chau before racing toward the urban area. Customs officers alerted police and the driver was intercepted at Central in the early morning on Tuesday. Police are investigating his motives and movements since entering Hong Kong.

China Daily

(HK Edition 10/29/2015 page7)