In Brief
Retail sales to grow 12.7pc year on year, says index
Retail sales in Hong Kong are expected to grow 12.7 per cent year on year, with total sales estimated at HK$136.8 billion in the second half of the year, according to the latest MasterCard Worldwide Index of Retail released yesterday. The report said that all 12 Asia-Pacific markets surveyed were expected to continue positive growth despite subprime crisis concerns. China would continue taking the lead, with retail sales to reach 5.57 trillion yuan (HK$6.34 trillion) ) in the second half of the year. Taiwan, New Zealand and Japan would be less bullish.
New political assistant speaks to reporters during green visit
Newly appointed political assistant Linda Choy Siu-min accompanied her boss, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah, to visit the green group Conservancy Association on her first day of work yesterday. In an unusually high-profile arrangement, the press was invited to cover the function, after which Ms Choy spoke about the visit and her work in the bureau. The arrangement followed criticism that some new political appointees had evaded reporters. Ms Choy, formerly news editor of the South China Morning Post, said the arrangement was a coincidence. Mr Yau had scheduled to meet the association yesterday and they believed it would be a good chance to meet the press, she said.
Recruitment for posts
The government will launch a new round of recruitment for the posts of administrative officer, executive officer, assistant labour officer and assistant trade officer next month. Applicants will be tested on their knowledge of the Basic Law knowledge and the results taken into account in assessing a candidate, the government said.
