In Brief
Fanny Law silent on review of HKIEd findings
Former permanent secretary for education and manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun said yesterday it was not convenient for her to comment on the government's request for a judicial review of the findings of the Hong Kong Institute of Education commission of inquiry as the relevant legal procedures had already been initiated. She said she had fully stated her stance in an open letter on the day the commission's report was released. Secretary for Education Michael Suen Ming-yeung announced on Monday that the government was applying for a review of the finding Mrs Law had acted improperly by demanding that critics of government education policy be silenced.
HK opposition to Taipei's UN bid at record 68pc
Hong Kong people's opposition to Taiwan's rejoining the United Nations has soared to a record high. The number of people saying no reached 68 per cent over the past three months, the highest since the public opinion programme survey by the University of Hong Kong began in 1993. Opposition to Taiwanese independence also rose four points to 83 per cent during the period. Pollster Robert Chung Ting-yiu said Hongkongers were apparently unsympathetic to the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan using the UN issue as part of their presidential election campaign. The survey, which covered 1,025 respondents, also showed more people believed that 'one country, two systems' did not apply to Taiwan, as the figure rose to an eight-year high of 39 per cent.
No visa for HK tourists to Fiji
Fiji has agreed to grant immediate visa-free access to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders for up to six months. The number of countries or territories granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to SAR passport holders is now 135. Fijians may visit Hong Kong visa-free for a stay of up to 90 days.
36 pollution convictions in August
Thirty-six convictions were recorded last month for breaches of anti-pollution laws, the Environmental Protection Department said. Twenty-three convictions were related to air pollution, eight to the Waste Disposal Ordinance, three to the Noise Control Ordinance and two to water pollution. The heaviest fine, HK$80,000, was handed to a company that was found guilty of importing controlled waste without a permit.
Spanish trip for Legco group
A delegation from the Legislative Council subcommittee studying ways to combat poverty arrived in Madrid at the start of a six-day duty visit to Spain and England. They met representatives from the Public Employment Service in Spain to learn their employment policies regarding groups at risk.
