Talking points

Countdown to the CPPCC plenum continues

The countdown to the annual Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference session continues with the top advisory body holding a press conference in Beijing today. The political advisory body's outgoing session met for the last time yesterday and adopted draft lists of candidates to serve in key positions for the new session's plenary meeting, which begins tomorrow.

Endangered species issue gets heard

Representatives from 177 governments around the world will consider 70 proposals to tighten efforts to stamp out the trade in endangered species at a conference starting today in Bangkok. A sharp rise has been recorded in the illegal trade of products such as ivory and rhino horns, with up to 30,000 African elephants poached for their ivory last year. The meeting of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species runs until March 14.

Swiss vote on executives' pay

Voters in traditionally conservative Switzerland head to the polls tomorrow in a referendum on a proposal that would radically increase the rights of company shareholders to limit executives' pay. Known as the "Minder initiative" - after its instigator, businessman Thomas Minder - the resolution resulted from a petition that mustered the support of 100,000 voters, enough to force a poll. The government - and big business - want a "no" vote.

Fund manager turns to music

Fund manager Anthony Bolton is a colossus of the financial industry. But the man behind Fidelity's China Special Situations Fund brings the curtain up on a different career tomorrow - as a composer. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra will play Bolton's composition Colossus of Rhodes at its "Spring Together" fundraising concert at the Cultural Centre.

Walkers raise Community Chest cash

The Community Chest's first large-scale fundraiser of the year takes place tomorrow. Called the "New Territories Walk for Millions", the walk starts at Pak Shek Kok Promenade and ends at the Tai Po Waterfront Park. All proceeds from the event will be allocated to enhancing family and child welfare services, maintaining and strengthening family bonding, and helping family members establish mutual support.

HKU's medical department wants bodies

Interested in helping the doctors of the future after your death? The University of Hong Kong needs your help. The Li Ka-shing Faculty of Medicine is holding a body donation day tomorrow to address a desperate shortage of the cadavers needed to train its growing intake of would-be medics. It said the date was chosen because the phrase "three-three" in Chinese was associated with endlessness and infinity.