More than 200 repair workers from Otis Elevator went on strike yesterday, saying recent pay rises were unfair. Staff with less experience got 20 per cent pay rises, while those in the job for over 10 years got a 5 per cent raise, said Tse King-wa of the Hong Kong General Union of Lift and Escalator Employees. Tse said 90 per cent of Otis' Kowloon repair workers were on strike and services were affected. An Otis spokeswoman denied the claim. She said Otis would communicate with staff - but not the union.
The HK$2 transport fare for elderly people will be extended to 20 ferry routes from March 3, the government said yesterday. Passengers aged 65 and over can use their Octopus card on the ferries run by 12 operators - excluding deluxe-class services - for HK$2. The concession fare was introduced on the MTR and four franchised bus services last year. Younger passengers who receive the full disability allowance will also be able to travel for HK$2.
A suspected smuggler was arrested off Cheung Chau and about 1.4 tonnes of lobster, worth HK$700,000, was seized early yesterday. Police moved in as boxes of goods were being loaded from a fishing boat onto a speedboat at about 2.40am. Four men escaped in the speedboat. A Hong Kong man, 34, who was on another speedboat, was arrested.