While we don't begrudge Dr Hui this honour. We just wonder where this is all heading. Once some of our better-known earthly stars get wind of the possibility of their names being associated with something in perpetuity there could be a rush into space, so to speak. A star for Ronnie Chan Chichung, a galaxy for Li-Ka-shing, but hard to say who would care to have their name associated with, say, a black hole.

Polluting still pays

Zijin Mining resumed trading yesterday after a four-day suspension while awaiting its fine for polluting the Ting River in July, resulting in the deaths of almost two million kilograms of fish and leaving cyanide in the river.

Stockbrokers CLSA note that the fine was way lower than expectations at 9.6 million yuan (HK$11.15 million), and compensation of 31.9 million yuan for economic losses, together with an unspecified liability to clean up the river.

CLSA had anticipated a fine of 500 million yuan but concluded that the relatively modest penalty was a result of the Fujian government selecting those rules that imposed rather modest fines, 'possibly due to close relationships with the company and a 100 million yuan donation to an alternate local water source'. The government has tough new laws in place, but apparently chose not to apply them.

CLSA had been advising clients that with environmental protection laws tightening rapidly in Asia they should invest in companies with a better approach to the environment since fines and closures impact on earnings. However, the Zijin fine and the light treatment that the Formosa Group has received, despite its appalling accident record, leads CLSA to conclude that, while polluters may be paying, they are not having to pay that much.

McWeddings on menu

We hear that McDonald's is getting in on the wedding party business. Instead of a traditional spread of abalone, shark's fin soup and the like, newlyweds will be able to celebrate their nuptials with hamburgers and French fries.

McDonald's has set aside three restaurants at which wedding ceremonies can be held. Apparently McDonald's has romantic connotations for many couples since many first met in these restaurants and frequently dated there.

A match made in heaven, or should that be McHeaven.

JR does some unto Citi

Some readers may remember the TV series Dallas and the satisfaction that J.R. Ewing would get from mauling a rival. The actor who played that role, Larry Hagman (pictured), may be having similar thoughts after winning US$11.5 million in a securities arbitration case against Citigroup. The fine includes US$10 million in punitive damages that Citigroup Global Markets, a unit of Citigroup, must pay to charities of Hagman's choice, as well as over US$1.1 million in compensatory damages to Hagman and the claimants.

As JR famously once said, 'Don't forgive and never forget; Do unto others before they do unto you ...'

Ahoy, at last

The Hong Kong government has finally woken up to the fact that 2010 has been designated the Year of the Seafarer by the International Maritime Organisation and that it would make sense if it acknowledged its maritime industry.

So it has declared the week starting October 25 as Maritime Awareness Week, and organised a motley collection of events, seminars and luncheons throughout the week. One of the highlights is a tree- planting ceremony at the Maritime Services Training Institute in Tuen Muen. To round off the week, according to a Marine Department press release, the industry will hold a beach cleaning day at Lamma. 'About 150 people will take part in this activity to disseminate the environmental protection message by keeping the harbour clean,' its statement says.