Mak told Guangnan he would repay the loan when stock in a storehouse was sold, the court was told. But the stock did not belong to Mak. He disappeared until July 2002, when he was caught in Shenzhen.

Arrests foillow soccer gambling investigation

Mainland police have launched an investigation into a soccer gambling syndicate, believed to have taken in 70 million yuan in bets, allegedly headed by a Hong Kong man.

Police arrested the Hong Kong man, two mainlanders and a Singaporean in Foshan , Guangdong, following a tip-off.

Guangdong police cracked 1,662 cases involving soccer gambling, and arrested seven people and detained 365 last month.

500 officers needed for new border checkpoint

Assistant Immigration Director Siu Chung-kit says 500 officers are needed to man a new checkpoint with the opening of the Lok Ma Chau spur line next year.

However, Mr Siu told a radio programme that the department would not be taking on any new officers and the 500 would be reassigned from other positions.

He also said about 16,000 applications were received for 93 immigration assistant positions.

Signal failure delays cross-border trains

Train services between Guangzhou and Hong Kong were delayed for more than three hours yesterday by a signal failure in Zhangmuton, a small town north of Shenzhen, about 3pm, the Kowloon-Canton Railway said. About 300 passengers in two trains were affected.