Slice of Life
From the South China Morning Post this week in: 1999
Hollywood, March 9
Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, former husband of Marilyn Monroe, died yesterday aged 84. He died at his Hollywood home surrounded by family and friends. Known as the 'Yankee Clipper', DiMaggio patrolled centre field for the New York Yankees from the 1930s until the early 1950s and established one of baseball's most revered records with a 56-game hitting streak in 1941. During his tenure the Yankees won 10 World Series titles in 11 appearances. He underwent lung cancer surgery in October.
Hong Kong, March 9
The tycoon behind the Pokfulam cyberport, Richard Li Tzar-kai, says the HK$13 billion project alone is not enough to turn Hong Kong into a leading information technology hub. The Pacific Century Group chairman said the Government had to do more to enhance the territory's competitiveness in meeting the challenges of the information era.
Mr Li, the younger son of Li Ka-shing, said the cyberport proposals were 'thrown out' by the Government when they were put forward more than a year ago. 'The original proposal was that the Government build it ... the Government didn't want to spend HK$16 billion - HK$8 billion on land, HK$8 billion on construction.'
A government official denied the administration had shown favouritism. Emily Lau Wai-hing of The Frontier said: 'I wonder why the government did not put the project out to tender and let everybody have an equal chance of participating.'
Meanwhile, the group's technology division is prepared to invest HK$5.5 billion in the cyberport.
Hong Kong, March 9
More than 800 men have visited a public health clinic for the anti-impotence drug Viagra, forcing overloaded doctors to work even longer to clear the backlog. At Kwong Wah Hospital's men's clinic, the number of patients on the waiting list for treatment of erectile dysfunction had doubled over the past two months. Three hundred Viagra prescriptions have been issued by the clinic so far. The drug was launched last month.
Guangdong, March 10
Seven alleged members of Big Spender's gang have been arrested in Guangdong over the killing of eight drivers in a series of highway robberies. Shanwei resident Chen Xiaogang, 30, said to be one of Big Spender Cheung Tze-keung's associates, had headed the gang, Nanfang Daily said.
Chen and the six other gang members were accused of killing the eight drivers in a crime spree dating back to June 1997. They allegedly wore military uniforms when they intercepted vehicles along the highways on the mainland.
Phnom Penh, March 10
Authorities filed charges yesterday against notorious Khmer Rouge leader Ta Mok, who faces life imprisonment for treason.
Ta Mok, the last at-large Khmer Rouge leader and the first to face charges, was captured on Saturday by army units in the northern Cambodian jungle.
Genocide charges were later added.
Military court chief judge General Ney Thol said it could take six months to build a case against Ta Mok, nicknamed 'The butcher' for his legendary brutality during Pol Pot's 'killing fields regime'. The regime is blamed for the deaths of up to 2 million Cambodians between 1975 and 1979.
New York, March 15
Not all his strength and power could save Britain's Lennox Lewis from a New York mugging on one of the darkest days of boxing history.
Lewis outclassed Evander Holyfield for 12 rounds only to be denied confirmation of his status as the undisputed world heavyweight champion when judges scored the fight a draw. Lewis landed more jabs than Holyfield did punches. Holyfield landed fewer than 10 punches in six rounds. 'I cannot believe the outcome. I'm so disappointed I won that fight hands down. I was expecting three belts,' Lewis said.
