In Brief

shenzhen police sued over death after bungled raid

A Hong Kong widow has sued Shenzhen authorities for 1.3 million yuan after her husband died of a heart attack following an argument with police who mistook their property for an underground casino and broke in without warning. Wan Kwun-siu, 55, ran an internet cafe on the Lougang estate with her husband, 59-year-old Yuen Kwun-tsuen, and her mainland-born children. On April 24, a squad of auxiliary police - hired security guards who do not wear uniforms - raided the business. Ms Wan was knocked down in the incident, suffering serious head injuries and spending two months in hospital, her daughter-in-law said.

Yuen demanded police apologise and pay compensation, said the daughter-in-law, but died of a heart attack during a heated conversation with a Shenzhen police officer two days after the incident. The family said he had a history of heart disease, but blame his death on the police. A court will hear the claim this month. Shenzhen police have admitted they made a mistake and apologised, but deny responsibility for Yuen's death. The underground casino that was their intended target is still operating two blocks from the cafe. Chow Chung-yan

activists plan anti-japan protest on disputed isles

Local activists defending Chinese sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands yesterday vowed to set foot on the disputed territory in a protest this month. The Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands plans to reach the islets on Victory over Japan Day, August 15, when Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is expected to visit the Yasukuni war shrine.

Announcing the details of the 84-hour trip, chairman Or Wah stressed the committee would stage a peaceful demonstration. 'The action committee would make peaceful protests to demonstrate Chinese sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands,' he said. 'We will definitely try our best to set foot on the islands, but safety will also be our first principle.' Dikky Sinn