In Brief

New Taiwan representative to HK runs into visa delay

The arrival of a new Taiwan representative to Hong Kong may be delayed, as a visa for the new managing director of the Chung Hwa Travel Service - Taiwan's de facto consulate in the city - has not yet been approved by the Hong Kong government, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said. The Taipei-based Central News Agency quoted the council saying that Pao Cheng-kang, the current managing director of the travel service, would return to the island in a few days, as his term had expired. But his successor, Yang Chia-chun, director of the council's department of legal affairs, has yet to be granted a working visa by Hong Kong.

UK bird flu halts applications

Processing of applications for importing poultry and poultry products from Britain have been suspended following confirmation of a case of bird flu there. A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety said the decision was taken after confirmation of H5N1 bird flu on a poultry farm.

Euro V diesel on sale soon

Euro V diesel will be available in the market as early as December 1, when a new concessional duty on the cleaner fuel becomes effective. The legislature yesterday endorsed a government resolution to introduce a 55 cents cut in this vehicle diesel duty from HK$1.11. The fuel contains 80 per cent less sulfur than ultra-low-sulfur diesel.

Property rates waiver approved

A motion calling for the waiving of all next year's property rates, subject to a ceiling of HK$5,000 per quarter, was passed by lawmakers. It also called for a cut in the rates charge from 5 per cent to below 5 per cent. The motion was passed by a 20-0 vote by directly elected lawmakers and 18-1 by functional constituency members, with some abstentions.