QUOTES OF THE WEEK

'The airspace belongs to China. It is for them to say yes or no,' - Aviation official George Chao explaining why Hong Kong could not help Swiss balloonists to get the OK to fly over the mainland. China said no, and then yes. But it was too late for their round-the-world attempt.

'I'm worried I will not be able to catch up with my work if I spend too much time here,' - ten-year-old fire victim Lee Kwong-fat, whose first reaction on being hospitalised was to ask for his school to be told that his homework would be late.