In Brief

HK$1m lost to bogus travel agent

Dozens of travellers who paid up to HK$1 million for airline tickets from a bogus travel agency in Lockhart Road lodged complaints with police last night. Complaints started filtering in at about 6pm and by late evening more than 50 complaints about the travel agency were filed. Wan Chai police are investigating the case, classified as operating an unlicensed travel agency.

Chickenpox tops 13,000 cases

The city had 13,401 cases of chickenpox between January and September, Centre for Health Protection figures show. About 54 per cent of outbreaks occurred in schools and 45 per cent in pre-primary services. Chickenpox notifications jumped 60 per cent between 2002 and 2006, from 6,780 to 16,727. The annual notification rate was 181 per 100,000 population.

Fewer emergency room patients

Five per cent fewer people required emergency department treatment this Christmas compared with last year, the Hospital Authority said. The number attending emergency rooms on December 24 and 25 was 5,334. Average daily admittance from December 1 to 24 was 5,601. Tuen Mun Hospital had the most Christmas attendances, 545 , and Pok Oi Hospital had the fewest, 244.

'Stomach flu' at home for elderly

Gastroenteritis broke out at a home for the elderly, affecting 34 residents and two staff. Fifteen men and 21 women aged 46 to 97 developed symptoms, including diarrhoea and vomiting, between December 19 and yesterday, said the Centre for Health Protection. None required admission to hospital. Tests for norovirus were positive.

Mark Six

No one won first prize in last night's draw. The numbers were 7, 17, 37, 38, 40 and 48. The extra number was 43. One ticket won second prize of HK$1,587,560. Third prize paid HK$34,140.