An elderly farmer in Sheung Shui is demanding HK$513,000 from a real estate developer and a rural chief for dumping waste and bulldozing the farmland that her family ploughed for 50 years. Lau Oi-liu, 83, filed her lawsuit Man Chun-shing, manager of Treasure Palace Property Agency, and Hau Chi-keung, chairman of the Sheung Shui District Rural Committee. She also wants the court to order the pair to clear the waste. Lau brought the court action after Man, 45, was convicted in 2010 of unauthorised development, criminal damage and illegal dumping of construction waste to a depth of 1.7 metres on the site. The farmer lives and works in Ho Sheung Heung.

The West Kowloon arts hub's endowment fund has increased by HK$1.4 billion to HK$23 billion, and 80 people were hired boosting the team to more than 100, its 2011-12 annual report said yesterday. The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority also revealed that its chief executive Michael Lynch had earned a total of HK$4.5 million as of March 31. Eight other senior executives took home a total of HK$21 million.