In Brief

Committee to review welfare funding set up

The government yesterday set up a five-member Lump Sum Grant Independent Review Committee to be led by Social Welfare Advisory Committee chairman Wilfred Wong Ying-wai. Other members are Anna May Chan Mei-lan, a solicitor and chairwoman of the Social Security Appeal Board; Dorothy Chan Yuen Tak-fai, a member of the Advisory Council on the Environment; Lawrence Li Kwok-chang, a doctor and chairman of the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board; and Ayesha MacPherson, a partner with an accounting firm and member of the Women's Commission. The committee is expected to complete the review of the funding model for social welfare organisations in six to nine months.

Call to retain trade-based seats

Better Hong Kong Foundation chairman Ronnie Chan Chi-chung says functional constituencies must be retained in the Legislative Council. At a foundation media reception, he said there had not been any rational discussion on constitutional reform, saying local media had not talked about any disadvantages of democracy.

Wage-protection levy to be cut

The Business Registration Certificate levy for the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund will be reduced from HK$600 to HK$450 beginning on March 14. A government spokesman said the improving economy meant ex gratia payments by the fund to employees owed wages had subsided and its financial position had improved.

Missing student returns

A Hong Kong University of Science and Technology student who disappeared for more than a fortnight last year returned to the school and will resume his classes from next term. Yin Riqiang, a third-year physics student, went missing after leaving his home in Hunan province last August. He was found in an internet cafe in Shenzhen, claiming he had forgotten to renew his student visa.