Judge slams bail for drug addict Releasing a drug addict on bail while he awaiting trial for serious drug offences had simply given him the rope he needed to hang himself, a judge said yesterday. Deputy High Court Judge Peter Line made the comment before sentencing Tong Wun-kau, 46, to 51/2 years for Ice-related offences. Tong had been bailed after being caught supplying Ice to two friends. But he was arrested soon afterwards with almost 10 grams of the drug, for which he received 18 months in jail, on top of four years for the original offences. Tong's girlfriend, Chin Moon-lin, 38, will be sentenced for possession of Ice on October 2. Lone hiker dies after fall A man out hiking alone slipped to his death in Ma On Shan. He was found lying unconscious in a creek off Ma On Shan Tsuen Road at 3.30pm. He was confirmed dead at Prince of Wales Hospital. Police said the 61-year-old, surnamed Lam, had told his wife he was going for a hike at 1pm. They believe he slipped and hit his head. Patrols stepped up for festival About 1,000 leisure officials will be deployed from next Monday to Wednesday to step up patrols at parks, beaches and barbecue sites to take action against people who litter or burn wax while celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on September 26 this year. A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said littering offenders would be issued with HK$1,500 fixed-penalty tickets, while those who burned wax would be prosecuted. Weather station for Eastern A new automatic weather station was established at the Museum of Coastal Defence, which will provide information for Eastern District to the public. The station, set up under the Observatory's 'One District One Station' scheme, will provide real-time temperatures for the district. The public can also call 1878200 or visit the Observatory's website. Milk products to be monitored A notification scheme will be launched to ensure the safety of imported milk products. Starting from October 1, the Centre for Food Safety will require local food importers and distributors to enrol with the centre so that they can be identified, enabling the centre to trace the source of food and take follow-up action in the event of a food scare or other incident. Missing elderly man fell in drain A 68-year-old man who went missing from his home for the elderly in Lok Ma Chau was found after falling into a sewage drain in Tsung Pak Long, Sheung Shui. The man, surnamed Chau, was found injured by sewage workers at 10am and taken to a hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition. He was reported missing after leaving the home for the elderly last Saturday. Injured girl brought over border A four-year-old Hong Kong girl who suffered a serious burn to her leg on the mainland was rushed across the border for treatment. The girl, surnamed Lee, fell into a hot lime pool in Xinhui, Guangdong province. Last night she was reported to be in a serious condition in Prince of Wales Hospital.
