In Brief

Poll finds majority support for freeze on rail fares after merger

Most people polled by the Democratic Party say the government should enforce a two-year freeze on rail fares after the MTR Corp and KCRC merge their rail operations. More than 80 per cent of those polled supported a freeze, and 78 per cent said it would be unacceptable to allow the privatised MTR Corp to raise fares from next April. Three-quarters agreed the Executive Council should have the final say on fare rises. Party legislator Lee Wing-tat said the fare issue would be among items on the agenda when Democrats met transport minister Sarah Liao Sau-tung this week to discuss the merger. Democrats are seeking a 10 per cent fare cut after the merger of rail operations takes place.

Police officers collapse in heat

Two police officers were taken to hospital with heatstroke after collapsing during training at Wu Kau Tang, Fanling, yesterday. A 38-year-old male officer was admitted in critical condition. The other, a woman aged 25, was discharged from Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital after treatment.

HK police involved in Tokyo bust

Hong Kong police played their part in Japan's biggest ever drug seizure, which resulted in the arrest of five suspects, four of them Hongkongers, Police Commissioner Tang King-shing said. Japanese police seized Ice worth HK$200 million in an operation in Tokyo on Friday. Mr Tang said Hong Kong police had offered intelligence to Japanese police. The case showed the force's close co-operation with overseas counterparts, he said.