Housing official's contract extended

Assistant Director of Housing Poon Kai-tak, 47, has had his contract extended for 2.5 years, days after shoplifting and assault charges against him were dropped. Mr Poon stole a $60 computer magazine and blamed it on drugs he was taking to deal with stress from a series of housing scandals. He had pleaded not guilty but admitted the facts of the case after the charges were dropped. The Director of Public Prosecutions concluded it was not in the public interest to pursue the charges because of Mr Poon's psychiatric problems. He had been on leave since his arrest in July.