In Brief
Constable convicted of trying to cheat burglary victim
Constable Cheung Ho-pong, 33, was convicted in Kowloon City Court yesterday of trying to cheat a burglary victim out of HK$100,000. Cheung was a detective constable at Kowloon City police station on August 9, 2004, when he was assigned to investigate a suspected burglary at a home in Forfar Road, in which more than HK$600,000 of jewellery was stolen. Cheung lied to relatives of the victim that he had an informant who might be able to recover the property, and solicited HK$100,000 from the victim's daughter-in-law as 'bait money' to buy it back. Magistrate Sham Siu-man adjourned sentencing to May 16. Cheung was remanded in custody.
Nine-month delay proposed for increase in sewage charges
The government has proposed delaying introduction of 10 years of sewage charge increases by nine months to April 1 next year to win support from legislators. The charge, which will see the average monthly fee for households increase from HK$11 to HK$27 by 2017, was originally planned to take effect on July 1 this year. The compromise was made by environment officials at a meeting of a Legco subcommittee scrutinising the proposal, which will increase recovery of the cost of sewage treatment from 53 to 80 per cent. Officials also undertook to conduct a comprehensive review of the charge in 2011, and pledged to report to Legco each year on any possible deviation from the proposed charge and any delay of newly planned sewage projects longer than a year.
Three treated after garbage fire
Three people were treated for smoke inhalation in hospital after rubbish caught fire in a second-floor rear staircase of a residential block in Shanghai Street, Mong Kok. A 14-year-old boy and two women, aged 28 and 32, were discharged from Kwong Wah Hospital. More than 20 residents were evacuated from the building when the fire broke out about 4.35am. Firemen extinguished the flames at about 5.10am.
Stolen truck found in Mong Kok
Police recovered a stolen truck in Larch Street, Mong Kok, about 12.40am, two hours after it was reported missing in Western. Its ignition had been tampered with. The truck went missing in Fung Mat Road, Western. The owner discovered the theft on Wednesday when he arrived to pick it up.
Metal bar injures worker
A worker was hit by a metal bar that injured his neck while he was working in the car park of Topsail Plaza in On Sum Street, Sha Tin, about 2pm. The man, 25, was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital. He was in stable condition.
Toppled truck hurts driver
A driver injured his right arm, leg and shoulder when his container truck toppled over at a roundabout in Tsing Yi. The 63-year-old man was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital after the accident at Tsing Yi Hong Wan Road roundabout about 11.45am.
Woman survives suicide bid
A woman, 56, who was unhappy at work slashed her left wrist with a cutter in a suicide bid in Horse Shoe Lane, Sau Mau Ping, about 7.45am. She was treated at United Christian Hospital. Police found a death note and the cutter at the scene. She was in stable condition.
Mark Six
Two tickets each won first prize of HK$37,398,375 last night. The numbers were 3, 17, 32, 44, 46 and 47. The extra number was 33. Nine tickets each won second prize of HK$903,460. Third paid HK$47,340.
