City briefs

'Tornado' in Wan Chai just a squall, says expert

Strong winds that damaged trees in Wan Chai on Wednesday were unlikely to have been the result of a mini-tornado, a weather expert said yesterday.

Witnesses said that between noon and 1pm, as a severe storm bore down on the city, they saw a 10 metre-high vortex of rain come swirling down Harbour Road. It ripped a large tree apart, sending debris flying, they said. No one was injured and no property damage was reported.

Despite its appearance, Hong Kong Observatory scientific officer Lee Tsz-cheung said it was unlikely to have been a tornado.

'Common sense would suggest that had a tornado touched down in Wan Chai, we would have heard about it,' Mr Lee said. 'It is more likely to have been the result of squalls or big gusts of wind.'

arson suspected at site of new restaurant

A restaurant under construction was the target of a suspected arsonist in Tuen Mun early yesterday. Police and firefighters were called to the site in Sam Shing Street about 3.15am. Firefighters put out the blaze within 15 minutes. Part of a wooden fence and some construction materials were damaged. No one was hurt. Police took over the investigation after two sources of fire were found.