Briefs, December 23, 2012

Officials mull stricter cooking oil monitoring

Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said yesterday that the government was mulling whether to review the law to better monitor cooking oil companies. The products had to be recalled after they were found to have carcinogens. But Ko assured that existing food safety regulations were sufficient. He also added that a survey on the beef market, which has seen the price of beef from the mainland increase, would be released in three months.

Dairy firm fights ICAC over laundering case

A dairy company implicated in a HK$230 million laundering case has launched a judicial challenge against the Independent Commission Against Corruption, demanding that it return documents it seized from the firm. Natural Dairy (NZ) is also seeking to bar the ICAC from opening the documents. Last month, Ye Fang, wife of a former Natural Dairy executive director, and solicitor Wu Wing-kit were charged with money laundering.

Magazine sued for 'Broken Tooth' report

Next Magazine Publishing is facing a defamation lawsuit from Cheung Lup-kwan, who was mentioned in an article on the release of triad boss "Broken Tooth" Wan Kuok-loi. Cheung, who did not explain in his writ why the article was defamatory, is seeking damages and an order preventing the magazine from repeating the allegedly libellous statements in its December 6 report. Wan was released earlier this month after almost 14 years in a Macau prison.

Chinese directors cut from Oscars shortlist

Johnnie To Kei-fung and Chen Kaige are no longer in the running for an Academy Award after their films were cut from the best foreign film shortlist. Hong Kong director To's crime drama Life Without Principle and mainland filmmaker Chen's Caught in the Web - which tackles cyberbullying - were among 71 films being considered for an Oscar, but did not make it to the final nine contenders.

German poultry banned over bird flu

Health officials yesterday suspended the processing of import applications for poultry and poultry products, including eggs, from a state in Germany that saw an outbreak of bird flu. The World Organisation for Animal Health issued a warning about low-pathogenic avian influenza H5 at a farm in Schleswig-Holstein.