Briefs, December 16, 2012

Cathay Pacific Airways has accepted an invitation to meet Labour Department officials and representatives of its flight attendants' union, which has threatened industrial action in support of its quest for a bigger pay rise than the two per cent the airline has offered. The union said it would continue preparing for action, which would go ahead unless the dispute was settled by Christmas. The airline had said it would not hold talks unless the union first dropped its threat.

An 82-year-old man died yesterday, two days after he and his 75-year-old wife were assaulted by a burglar in their Wong Tai Sin home. Police last night arrested two men, aged 50 and 52, in Wan Chai, on suspicion of murder in connection with the death. The widow remains in hospital.