Top British politician begins 3-day visit
The leader of Britain's House of Commons, Peter Hain, last night began a three-day visit to Hong Kong during which he will speak on constitutional reform and meet political leaders. Mr Hain will deliver a speech, entitled 'Constitutional and Democratic Reform in the UK', to around 140 people at a lunch today organised by the think-tank Civic Exchange. He will have talks with Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie and Legislative Council president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai. Mr Hain's next stops will be Beijing and Shanghai.
Taxi owners meet officials over concerns
Taxi and minibus owners trying to outlaw cross-border bus services they say are devastating their business met Guangdong authorities. The two sides agreed to meet again on April 16. Lai Ming-hung, chairman of the Taxi and Public Light Bus Concern Group, said the officials they met from the Guangdong External Trade and Economic Co-operation Bureau were sympathetic over their concerns.
Thousands pass through border during festival
Thousands of travellers returned to Hong Kong through border checkpoints after paying respects to their ancestors during the Ching Ming festival. By 5pm, 112,939 people had passed through the Lowu and Lok Ma Chau crossings from the mainland, while 74,219 people had crossed into Shenzhen. The Immigration Department expected about 300,000 travellers to cross back into Hong Kong by midnight - 220,000 through the Lowu control point.
