In Brief
End of ban on imports from bird flu zone
The government yesterday decided to lift the import suspension on live poultry and birds as well as their products from within a 24km radius of Xinzao town, Panyu, as no new case of bird flu had surfaced after highly pathogenic H5N1 killer virus was confirmed among ducks in the area on September 17. The ban will be lifted from today.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said the decision was made after prudent assessment of the latest situation.
The bird flu virus killed more than 9,000 ducks in the farms, located in Guangdong province.
HK businesses lament lack of government help on mainland
A group of Hong Kong businessmen urged the government to resolve their grievances over investments on the mainland. Luk Wai-ping, one of six protesters on September 26 outside Zhongnanhai, the central government headquarters, said the government had done nothing.
The administration had always said it worked under the 'one country, two systems' principle, yet so many businessmen were suffering on the mainland, Ms Luk, a spokeswoman for the Concern Group on Investment Rights and Interests of Hong Kong Businessmen, said.
The group returned to Hong Kong on September 29, three days after being detained following their demonstration outside the central government headquarters.
Hospital Authority extends early retirement deadline
The Hospital Authority has extended a deadline, due last Friday, for senior staff at the head office to apply for voluntary early retirement. Several applications had been received, but 'a few eligible staff are still considering the options and we will allow a little more time for them to make a final decision'.
The applications will be considered on an individual basis by chief executive Shane Solomon for final approval.
The authority last month wrote to about 60 staff from the rank of senior manager and up about the scheme, which will be capped at 15 months' basic salary.
Justice Department appoints new law draftsman
The Department of Justice yesterday appointed Eamonn Patrick Aquinas Moran QC as the law draftsman, heading the law drafting division. Mr Moran, 55, was selected through an open recruitment exercise and will assume the post in January. Secretary for Justice Wong Yan-lung praised him as a highly respected legislative draftsman with sound professional experience and outstanding leadership.
Mr Moran has 32 years of experience in all aspects of legislation drafting, gained in Australia and Northern Ireland. He has written and lectured widely on the subject. The former law draftsman, Tony Yen Yuen-ho, left the job in March.
DAB elects vice-chairwoman
Ann Chiang Lai-wan, daughter of industrialist Chiang Chen, has been elected vice-chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. The vacancy emerged after Tam Yiu-chung was named party chairman in August after the death of Ma Lik.
