In Brief

Pilgrimage to Shanghai cancelled after veto

A pilgrimage of Hong Kong Catholics to the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan Help of Christians, 34km from Shanghai, has been cancelled after mainland authorities vetoed the trip on the scheduled date. The pilgrimage had been planned for May 24, in response to a letter from Pope Benedict to Chinese Catholics in June marking that day as one of prayer for the Catholic Church in China. The day was originally the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. Reverend Dominic Chan Chi-ming, vicar general of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, said he was given only vague reasons for the cancellation, although he said it may be because the trip involved about 1,000 pilgrims. He said officials had offered to approve the trip for other dates 'but that would be meaningless; we want it to take place on this date in particular'. The Olympic torch is scheduled to pass through Shanghai on May 20 and 21.

Elderly urge end to residency restrictions for 'fruit money'

More than half of elderly recipients of the old-age allowance want the government to scrap restrictions on the number of days those living on the 'fruit money' allowance must spend in the city each year, according to a survey by a labour union. The restrictions affect the options of elderly people who want to live in retirement across the border in Shenzhen but still want to keep the allowances from the Hong Kong government. Of the 1,064 elderly aged over 65 that the Federation of Trade Unions polled in March, 56 per cent agreed that the restriction should be scrapped. The union said such a move would improve elderly people's living quality and ease Hong Kong's housing and medical burden. The elderly are not eligible for the allowance if they leave the city for more than 240 days a year.

Supporters want Ma to visit

Hong Kong supporters of Taiwanese president-elect Ma Ying-jeou have invited him to make an official visit before his inauguration in May. The Chung Shan Research Institute Limited said it hoped the government would keep an open mind about the Hong Kong-born leader visiting.