In Brief

Demerit system may be used to curb gambling at shops

The Housing Department is considering extending the demerit system to tackle gambling in shops. The move comes after an audit report found that gamblers were occupying some of the department's premises. The department's assistant director, Liu King-leung, told yesterday's Legislative Council public hearing over the issue that the demerit system could effectively tackle cases that may not lead to prosecution. Illegal gambling at the department's flats can lead to a housing points deduction for offending tenants, but there is no such arrangement for shop tenants. In response to another auditor's accusation that markets and malls it runs were underused, the department said such facilities may be converted for welfare or educational use. Legislator Cyd Ho Sau-lan suggested the authorities open shops to art groups to fully utilise the space.

Unseasonal heatwave prompts warning to vulnerable workers

A very hot weather warning was issued yesterday for the first time this year. The highest temperature was 35 degrees Celsius, recorded in Sheung Shui. Forecasters said the hot weather had arrived slightly earlier than usual this year and issuing such a warning in May was rare. The Labour Department said workers, particularly those employed on construction sites and in kitchens, must remain vigilant against heatstroke in high temperatures.

93pc of HKIEd graduates find work as teachers, survey shows

Most graduates of the Hong Kong Institute of Education became teachers, a survey found. It interviewed 841 graduates and found nearly 93 per cent from the bachelor's degree or postgraduate programmes performed teaching duties. The average starting salary was just over HK$18,000.