In Brief
$2.4b education fund request approved
Legislators yesterday took only two minutes to rubber stamp a $2.44 billion funding request to change university courses from three to four years. Instead of the usual tussle in the Legco Finance Committee, members voiced their support for the proposal, which would also help secondary schools to alter their academic structures in the run-up to 2009, when the changes take effect.
four new names for judicial advisory board
Education Commission chairman Rosanna Wong Yick-ming and Hong Kong University vice-chancellor Tsui Lap-chee have been appointed to a body that advises the chief executive on the appointment of judicial officers. Law Society council member Michael Lintern-Smith and senior counsel Ambrose Ho were also named as new members of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission for a term of two years, starting on July 1.
Kowloon southern rail link now authorised The Kowloon Southern Link, which will connect West Rail's Nam Cheong Station with East Rail's East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, was gazetted yesterday after authorisation by the chief executive-in-council. The link aims to provide passengers with a direct link to Kowloon and access to the northeast New Territories through Hunghom station.
students aim to expose disneyland 'faults' A group of university students yesterday launched an anti-Hong Kong Disneyland concern group. The group, known as Disney Hunter, said while the forthcoming opening of the theme park had brought an air of excitement, issues such as labour rights, damage to the environment, collusion between officials and entrepreneurs, sex discrimination and culture invasion should not be overlooked.
The group accused Disney of attempting to cover up its faults and said it plans to start campaigns to raise public awareness of different issues.
