News 2008

31/12/08	A form three schoolgirl and her live-in boyfriend were jailed for two years and eight months yesterday for peddling drugs in Tin Shui Wa. The judge said he had to consider the trafficking was done out of personal greed and a deterrent sentence was needed despite their youth and the fact that they were first offenders. 中三女生與同居男在天水圍販賣毒品，昨日被判囚 2年8個月。法官指兩人雖然年輕及初犯，但考慮兩人因個人貪念而販賣毒品，必須判以阻嚇刑罰。
30/12/08	The MTR Corporation will offer elderly riders concessionary fares of HK$2 on Wednesdays and public holidays through August, but Sunday holidays excluded. The Liberal Party said the new concession cannot fully take care of the needs of the elderly. To show respect for the elderly, the Liberal party urged the MTR to offer permanent elderly concessions. 港鐵逢周三及公眾假期設長者兩元乘車優惠，為期8個月，但不包括周日。自由黨表示，新長者乘車優惠無充分照顧長者需要，呼籲港鐵永久推行兩元優惠，以表達對長者的尊敬。
29/12/08	More than half of the respondents who took part in a survey were pessimistic about next year's economy. Nearly half of the people said they were worried about layoffs next year. 67 per cent said they would cut spending. Regarding the government's ability to lead Hong Kong through the financial tsunami, 65 per cent said they were not so confident. 有調查發現，超過半數受訪者對明年本港經濟悲觀，近半擔心來年被裁員，六成七表示會減少消費，六成半人對港府帶領市民渡過金融海嘯信心不足。
28/12/08	About 1000 airport ground staff employed by Hong Kong Airport Services held a three hour strike in protest against the company's recent decision to cut their annual bonus. The strike caused delays in baggage handling and affected 83 flights. 受僱於香港機場地勤服務有限公司約 1000 千名地勤人員，不滿早前公司決定取消每年的獎金，發起 3小時的罷工行動，導致行李處理延誤及 83 班航班受影響。
27/12/08	A taxi drivers union has urged the government to make it compulsory for closed-circuit TV to be installed in taxis for the safety of drivers. The union, representing more than 3,000 red and green cab drivers, says it is not uncommon for night-shift drivers to be robbed, or for passengers to flee without paying. 有的士司機總會建議當局，立法強制所有的士安裝閉路電視，保障司機安全。代表三千多紅的和綠的司機總會指出，夜更司機經常被搶劫，乘客欠車費情況常見。
26/12/08	A couple were taken to hospital for treatment after they were attacked by their ten-year old cat. The cat bit and scratched them on their hands and legs. Recently the couple gave full attention to their new-born baby. The cat might feel jealous as it fell out of favour. 一對夫婦被飼養一頭 10 歲大的貓襲擊，他們手腳被抓傷，送院治理。夫婦近來將注意力轉移到初生嬰兒，花貓失寵而嫉妒。
25/12/08	The leader of Hong Kong 's Catholic Church, Cardinal Joseph Zen, says he will retire within six months to focus on taking care of the church in China . He said his successor, Bishop John Tong, shared his principles. Cardinal Zen is famous for his outspoken views on democratic and religious freedoms. 天主教香港教區主教陳日君樞機表示，他將會半年內退休，以專注關心內地教會，助理主教湯漢將接任主教，湯漢與他有共同的原則。陳日君以宗教及政治自由的敢言觀點聞名。
24/12/08	A smooth-talking swindler who used fake identities to obtain 12 jobs over 6 years and stole HK$3.62 million in the process was jailed for seven years. The 33-year-old used lies and bogus documents to secure jobs as a psychiatrist, accounting clerk and marketing boss. 一名花言巧語的騙徒，過去六年以虛假身分獲十二家公司聘任，其間盜竊公司款項三百六十萬元，昨被判入獄七年。三十三歲被告以謊言及虛假文件獲聘為心理學家、會計文員及市場主管。
23/12/08	The owner of a tutorial centre was jailed for 21 months for defrauding men of more than HK$200,000. The accused tricked 23 men into paying HK$3,700 each by promising them a boat trip with beautiful women featured on an internet site. The judge said a heavy sentence was necessary because such internet scams were becoming more serious. 補習社東主詐騙逾二十萬元，被判囚廿一個月。被告在互聯網誘騙二十三名男子藉遊船河結識美女，每人繳三千七百元。法官判刑指互聯網詐騙案日益嚴重，需要判重刑。
22/12/08	The Food and Health Bureau has ordered the Hospital Authority to submit a report on Caritas Medical Centre, which handled the case of a man who collapsed and died near the hospital. The man suffered a heart attack. His son asked a receptionist for help, and was told to call 999. The man died later. 食物及衛生局責成醫院管理局就明愛醫院處理一名男子在醫院外暈倒及死亡事件提交報告。該名男子心臟病發，他的兒子向接待員求助，但被要求致電999，男子其後死亡。
21/12/08	About 20 pro-democracy legislators and activists were refused entry to Macau - where they had planned to join demonstrations over planned new national security laws. The Macau authorities said they had to deny entry to people who did not meet immigration requirements, in order to maintain public safety and order. 約二十名民主派成員及立法會議員計劃到澳門參加當地新國家安全法遊行，但被澳門當局拒絕入境。澳門政府表示，若旅客在澳期間參與身分不符的活動，澳門政府會拒絕他們入境，以保障公眾治安。
20/12/08	The central government has given an assurance that it will help Hong Kong overcome the hardship caused by the global financial crisis. The 14 measures are reported to include allowing more mainland visitors to enter Hong Kong by widening the individual travellers' scheme, and taking steps to help Hong Kong businesses operating in the Pearl River Delta. 中央政府提出十四項措施，協助香港克服金融危機帶來的困難，當中包括擴大自由行，容許更多內地旅客訪港；又會協助香港企業在珠三角經營。
19/12/08	The Ombudsman has hit out at frontline staff at the Social Welfare Department, saying some lack common sense and practical judgment when handling applications for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance special grants. One applicant was able to obtain a total of HK$7,000 for designer glasses and HK$6,400 for bogus visits to the dentist. 申訴專員公署批評，社署部分前線職員在審批綜援特別津貼時，缺乏常識及判斷力。一名申請者獲得七千元津貼購買名牌眼鏡及六千四百元牙科津貼，卻從未看過牙醫。
18/12/08	The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups' survey revealed that three out of four young people interviewed see the festive season as a time for dating and one in 10 would accept a one-night stand. The Group’s spokeswoman urged young people to stay alert when starting a relationship during the festive season. 香港青年協會一項調查發現，逾七成受訪青年認為佳節是拖拍的時間，且有一成受訪者接受在節日裏發生一夜情；青協發言人呼籲青少年在節日開展戀愛時，要保持警覺。
17/12/08	Police have offered a HK$100,000 reward for information on the Mong Kok acid attack and classified the case as a deliberate attempt to harm people. Police are still in the dark over who was responsible and why they did it. Yesterday afternoon, officers sealed off part of Sai Yeung Choi Street South as they sought to reconstruct the incident. 警方懸紅十萬元追緝旺角掟「鏹水彈」兇徒歸案，警方已將案件列作意圖傷害人案。警方仍不知道誰人犯案及行兇動機。昨午，探員封閉一段西洋菜南街，試圖重組犯案過程。
16/12/08	The Chief Executive Officer of Asia Television, Ricky Wong, has resigned less than two weeks after taking up the post. ATV's Chairman, Linus Cheung, said Mr. Wong decided to leave after 'irreconcilable differences' emerged in their management styles. But in a dramatic turn of events, Wong's spokeswoman last night issued a written statement that he does not plan to resign. 亞洲電視行政總裁王維基上任僅十二天請辭。亞視主席張永霖表示，由於處事作風有重大分歧，出現不可調和的分歧，王維基決定辭職。但事件有戲劇性轉變，王維基發言人晚上發表聲明，表示王維基未打算請辭。
15/12/08	Almost 59 per cent of 1,051 respondents to a Women Teachers’ Organisation survey said it would be impossible to switch from real to digital books in schools. The teachers think that using e-books will ruin students’ eyesight and writing skills. They also worry that some families cannot afford an expensive notebook. 香港女教師協會訪問約一千多名教師，結果顯示近五成九教師認為教科書電子化不可行，教師認為電子教科書會損害學生視力及寫字能力，教師亦憂慮部分家庭未能買得起昂貴的手提電腦。
14/12/08	More than 40 people have been injured after two bottles containing corrosive acid fell from a building onto a crowded pedestrian area in Mong Kok. Those injured are said to have suffered burns to their eyes, arms and legs and were taken to hospital for treatment. Police believe the bottles were dropped deliberately. 旺角擁擠的行人專用區有人從大廈擲下兩樽腐蝕性液體， 40多人受傷，他們被灼傷眼、手及足，傷者被送院治理。警方相信，有人蓄意擲下樽。
13/12/08	The Hong Kong government won an appeal over the constitutional status of the radio licensing system. The Court of Appeal ruled that the relevant offence provisions under the Telecommunications Ordinance are not contrary to the Basic Law . The government welcomed the ruling, saying it meant that unlicensed broadcasting is illegal. 就廣播牌照制度是否符合憲法，政府的上訴得直。上訴法庭裁決《電訊條例》下相關罪行的條文沒有違反《基本法》，政府歡迎法庭的判決，這代表無牌廣播實屬違法。
12/12/08	City Bus has refused to rent a double-decker to organizers of the city's first gay parade tomorrow because of concerns over its company image. Gay rights activists have condemned the bus company's decision as discriminatory and the Government has asked City Bus to clarify its position. 城巴因考慮公司形象，拒絕租用一架雙層巴士供周六首次同志大遊行之用。同志權益積極分子譴責城巴決定是歧視性，政府亦要求城巴澄清公司立場。
11/12/08	Four bus companies say they will discontinue their fare concessions – which include a HK$2 flat fare on Sundays and public holidays for elderly passengers and same-day–return discounts – in the face of rising operation costs. A legislator criticized the companies for lacking social responsibility by cancelling the discounts at a time of falling oil prices. 四家巴士公司表示，基於經營成本上升，乘車優惠包括「長者假日兩元優惠」及「即日回程折扣優惠」不會延長。有立法會議員批評巴士公司在油價下跌時仍取消優惠，缺乏社會責任。
10/12/08	Hong Kong's bird flu alert level has been raised to serious after the H5 virus killed dozens of chickens at a farm in Yuen Long. About 90-thousand chickens from the Yuen Long farm and nearby areas were culled. There will be a three week ban on live chicken imports and poultry sales from local farms. 元朗一個雞場數十雞隻感染禽流感死亡，本港禽流感的應變級別提升至「嚴重」，政府將出事雞場及附近地區九萬雞隻銷。本港暫停入口活雞及禁售本地農場家禽三個星期。
9/12/08	The Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, has unveiled a stimulus package aimed at countering the effects of the financial tsunami. The government is to pump 100-billion dollars into loan guarantees for enterprises and will speed up infrastructure projects to create more than 60,000 jobs. 行政長官曾蔭權推出一整套振興經濟措施以對抗金融海嘯，政府投入一千億元，擴大企業信貸，並藉加快基礎建設工程，提供六萬個就業職位。
8/12/08	The environmental group, Friends of the Earth, urges the government to legislate against light pollution. It warns that more than 1,300 street lights on residential buildings are a cancer risk for residents. Prolonged exposure to night lights disrupts humans' biological clocks and damages their immune systems. 環保團體「地球之友」要求政府立法管制光污染，並警告1,300盞懸掛住宅大廈外牆街燈對居民會有致癌風險。長期受夜燈光滋擾會擾亂生理時鐘及破壞免疫系統。
7/12/08	Chief Secretary Mr Henry Tang and three astronauts of the Shenzhou-7 mission officiated at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on " China 's First Spacewalk Mission" at the Hong Kong Science Museum yesterday. Mr. Tang said: "I hope that, in the near future, we will see Hong Kong astronauts riding our country's space equipment, following our space heroes." 政務司司長唐英年及「神舟七號」三名航天員昨日到科學館為航天展覽揭幕。唐英年表示，希望港人有日可以成為航天員，乘坐國家的飛船到太空。
6/12/08	A government investigation has found that a public housing estate lift crashed to the ground because of a seriously corroded pulley bearing. The accident happened in October at the Taipo Fu Shin Estate. The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Ho Kwong-wai, said that if any offence was discovered to have been committed, those responsible would be prosecuted. 大埔富善 10 月發生升降機墮下事故，政府調查發現，升降機的滑輪軸承 ( 俗稱啤鈴 ) 嚴重生銹。機電工程署何光偉昨稱，如有人需要負上刑事責任，會被刑事檢控。
5/12/08	Asia Television yesterday appointed two high-profile telecom executives Ricky Wong Wai-kay and Linus Cheung Wing-lam to senior roles in a bid to turn around the struggling broadcaster that has lost more than HK$5 billion since the 1980s. ATV will target the middle-income groups and plans to have more variety in its programming. 亞洲電視昨日委任兩名受矚目的電訊界巨頭加盟，由王維基及張永霖出任高級職務，企圖扭轉自1980代起至今已虧蝕超過五十億元的電視臺。亞視今後會面向中產及提供更多種類的節目。
4/12/08	A protest by hundreds of taxi drivers brought traffic around the airport to a standstill last night. They blocked the taxi stands at Hong Kong International Airport and the North Lantau Highway to vent their frustration over losing long-journey customers under the new fare system. 數百部的士抗議新收費方案，昨晚堵塞香港國際機場的士站及北大嶼山公路，令機場交通癱瘓。的士司機堵塞機場以發洩他們對新收費方案的沮喪，令他們失去長途車乘客。
3/12/08	The first Michelin Guide on Hong Kong and Macau was unveiled yesterday. Lung King Heen in the five-star Four Seasons Hotel was the only one in Hong Kong awarded three stars. Food critics complained that inspectors only graded food served in hotels and focused too much on style and decoration. 《米芝蓮指南香港澳門》昨日首次推出，位於五星級四季酒店內的「龍景軒」是香港唯一一間被米芝蓮評為「三星級」食肆。有飲食評論家抨擊，評審員只品評高級食肆食品，並注重風格和裝飾。
2/12/08	A Hong Kong businessman was killed and his wife injured in a car crash in Thailand while rushing to Phuket airport to catch a flight home. Following the incident, the government announced plans to charter three flights to bring back people. Only one day earlier, the Security Bureau repeatedly told the media the government could not arrange chartered flights. 一對港商夫婦趕往泰國布吉機場乘搭航機返港，在途中遇上車禍，夫死妻傷。意外發生後，特區政府宣佈安排三班包機接走滯泰港人。僅一日前，保安局一再告訴傳媒，政府不能安排包機。
1/12/08	The number of lottery fraud cases has almost doubled this year compared with last year. Lottery fraudsters often send e-mails to victims to tell them they have won large amounts of cash in prize money. They then ask victims to pay administration costs or taxes by a deadline. A victim has lost HK$6 million. 彩票騙案今年較去年增加近一倍。「彩票黨」騙徒透過電郵向受害人訛稱對方中了巨獎，然後要求受害人在最後限期前先繳付行政或稅務費。有受害人被騙去600萬元。
30/11/08	A pilot project involving cross border passes for motorists is expected to be launched within a year. It will result in hundreds of cars crossing from Hong Kong and Guangdong province every day for short visits. The authorities from both sides would start working out the details next month. 一項中港兩地私家車牌的試驗計劃預計一年內可以推行，到時每日會有數百輛車來往香港及廣東作短期逗留。中港兩地將於下月內制定出訂細節。
29/11/08	More than three hundred Hong Kong passengers, stranded by Bangkok 's airport closures, arrived back in Hong Kong at around 8 o'clock yesterday evening. They had boarded a special flight at an airport near Pattaya . 因曼谷機場關閉而滯留泰國的三百多名香港旅客，晚上八時返港。旅客在芭堤雅附近的一個機場乘搭專機回港。
28/11/08	A mental patient discharged less than two days was found dead with her two children in a public estate yesterday. The woman, who was divorced and lived on welfare money, spent nearly three weeks in a psychiatric hospital earlier this month. A lawmaker called for a review of government guidelines on discharging mental patients from hospital. 一名精神病病人前天剛出院，昨日被發現與兩名子女在其公屋單位內死亡。該名婦人是離婚的，依靠公援過活，本月初曾入住精神病院三星期。有立法會議員要求政府檢討精神病病人出院的指引。
27/11/08	According to the latest audit report on emergency ambulance services, 67 breakdowns occurred during a one-month period. The age of the vehicle fleet might lead to even more breakdowns in future, the report said. “An increase in breakdowns jeopardizes rescue operations and undermines the reliability of ambulance fleet,” the report said. 最新一期審計報告有關緊急救護車服務，指出一個月內，共有67輛救護車發生故障，車隊老化會導致更多的救護車故障。報告指救護車故障增加，危及營救行動及動搖救護車的可信賴性。
26/11/08	The Housing Authority has decided to reduce rents for its retail tenants by 50 percent in January and February. Over 10,000 tenants at 19 shopping malls will benefit from the reduction. Banks and supermarkets are excluded from the move as the measure is aimed at helping small and medium sized tenants ride out the financial tsunami. 房委會決定，旗下商戶明年一月及二月各免一半租金，十九個商場一萬多商戶受惠，但銀行和超市則不會獲減租，因為這措施的目標是協助中小企商戶渡過金融海嘯。
25/11/08	A Chinese-language newspaper is reporting that some meat vendors are using sulphur dioxide, a banned cancer- causing chemical, to give frozen beef a fresh look. It also reveals that many meat stalls are passing off American fatty beef as so-called local fatty beef and selling as fresh meat at much higher prices. 有中文報章報導，指有肉檔將被禁致癌化學物質二氧化硫添加於冷藏牛肉作鮮牛肉出售。報章亦揭露，很多肉檔將美國冷藏雪花肥牛冒充本地肥牛，高價出售。
24/11/08	A 13-year-old cyclist was critically injured when he crashed into a hillside while going downhill during a competition. It was reported that the teenager might have lost his balance when he turned to look behind him. Former top Hong Kong cyclist Hung Chung-yam stressed that cyclists really need to pay attention when they ride. 一名13歲單車小將參加單車比賽時，在落斜途中失控撞山，情況危殆。有報導該名少年疑回望時失控。香港前首席單車運動員洪松蔭強調，在踏單車時，運動員需要專心。
23/11/08	The Liberal Party is arguing that Hong Kong should follow Taiwan 's example and give away shopping-coupons in the hope of boosting consumer spending. But Mr Shih Wing-ching has expressed doubts about the idea and said the suggested value of the coupons - $1,000 - would not be enough to make a significant difference. 自由黨主張香港應仿效台灣向市民派發消費券以增加消費，但施永清質疑消費券價值只得 1000元，成效不大。
22/11/08	A ccording to a Lingnan University survey, low income groups are happier than last year despite the financial tsunami . In the so called happiness index, the survey found there was a 4.8% increase amongst those earning less than HK$9,000 a month. But the figure for the middle class was down by over 3%. 根據嶺南大學一項調查，儘管金融海嘯，低收入人士今年較去年快樂。快樂指數中，月入低於九千元的人士，他們的升幅約百分之四點八。但中產階層快樂指數則下降超過百分之三。
21/11/08	The Secretary for Home Affairs, Tsang Tak-shing, said the district councils should cut red tape to speed up small and medium works in the districts to create 700 jobs. Mr. Tsang said the government is also pressing ahead with renovating more than 1,000 30 year-old buildings as a means of creating jobs to boost the economy. 民政事務局局長曾德成表示，區議會應該簡化繁文縟節，令地區中小型工程加快上馬，提供七百個就業機會。曾德成表示，政府加緊推動維修一千幢樓齡超過三十年的樓宇以推動經濟。
20/11/08	Hopewell Holdings is hoping to speed up its controversial Wan Chai Mega Tower project, but it has agreed to cut down the size. The height of the tower will be cut from 93-storeys to 55 and it will be called Hopewell Centre II. The project will create about 4,000 jobs. 合和希望加快爭議多年的灣仔「Mega Tower」計劃，但同意削減建築面積，大樓由原來的九十三層減到五十五層，並稱為「合和中心二期」。計劃料可創造近4000個職位。
19/11/08	In a move to reduce the wall effect, property developments above West Rail MTR stations at Nam Cheong and Yuen Long will be scaled back. Visual corridors will be created, reducing development density and helping increase air circulation in the areas. 為減少屏風效應，政府將會縮小西鐵南昌站及元朗站上蓋地產項目。建築物之間會提供通風景觀廊，以降低發展密度及有助增強地區的空氣流通。
18/11/08	Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp laid off 450 staff. The bank said the decision was made as the result of deteriorating economic conditions and the bank's cautious outlook for 2009. Its executive director Peter Wong warned that "in this day and age no guarantees of job security can be given." 匯豐銀行裁員四百五十人，裁員是由於外圍經濟轉壞及銀行對明年經營環境抱審慎態度。匯豐銀行執行董事王冬勝警告﹕「今時今日，無一個僱主可承諾保障員工的工作。」
17/11/08	The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association warned parents affected by the financial tsunami to spend sufficient time with their children to make sure they do not go off the rails. They may still indulge in less costly activities with their children such as doing volunteer work, exercising or reading together. 小童群益會警告，受金融海嘯影響的父母應用足夠時間照顧子女，以免子女行為越軌。他們也可參加毋須耗資大量金錢的活動，如參與義務工作、一起參加運動和閱讀等。
16/11/08	The Secretary for Development, Carrie Lam, said the government would develop more smaller construction projects to help workers in the sector. Mrs Lam said that in the coming three months, more than 12-thousand jobs would be created by sixty-six projects. 發展局局長林鄭月娥表示，為協助建造業工人，政府會開拓更多小型工程，在 3 個月內，將有 66 項工程創造超過 12000 個職位。
15/11/08	The government announced that third quarter growth was a worse than expected 1.7-percent - and the annual forecast has been lowered. The unemployment rate has risen and the government has warned that the economy will enter a downward trend. 政府宣佈，本港第三季經濟按年增長 1.7%，較預期更低，全年經濟增長的預測亦被調低。失業率已上升，政府警告，本港經濟會步入衰退。
14/11/08	According to a survey by the Polytechnic University, English was perceived as the most vital language skill in the workplace. The survey also found that professionals use mostly English for e-mails, reports, letters and memos. As for spoken communication, English continued to play an important role in formal meetings, seminars and presentations. 根據理工大學一項調查，英語被認為是工作場所最重要的語言能力。調查發現專業人士最常用英文寫電子郵件、報告、書信及備忘錄。口語溝通方面，英文在正式會議、研討會及簡報仍然扮演重要角色。
13/11/08	The Legislative Council voted to invoke special powers to investigate the sale of Lehman Brothers products. The Legco probe will focus on whether any institutions or officials are to blame for losses suffered by investors. Another major question is whether the buyers were misled into purchasing the investments. 立法會通過引用特權法調查雷曼事件。立法會調查的重點在是否有機構或官員為投資者損失而受責備。另一主要問題在是否購買者被誤導而購買投資產品。
12/11/08	The government has bowed to pressure to extend suspension of the maid levy from two to five years. The Secretary for Labour, Matthew Cheung, said the extended suspension struck a balance between public views and the need to retrain local workers. 政府屈服於壓力，決定將暫停收取外傭徵費期限，由 2年延長至5年。勞工及福利局長張建宗表示，新建議是平衡社會意見及再培訓本地工人的需要。
11/11/08	The government has announced a HK$10-billion loan scheme for small and medium sized businesses, who are facing a credit squeeze caused by the financial tsunami. It will allow local businesses to borrow up to HK$1-million from financial institutions. The government will provide a 70-percent guarantee. 政府宣布提供 100億元特別信貸保證計劃，協助中小企面對因為金融海嘯難以取得信貸的困局。在新措施下，本地企業最高可向銀行借100萬元，政府提供七成擔保。
10/11/08	The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, K.C. Chan, said it is not appropriate to increase taxes at the moment. He added that the government will stimulate the economy by investing in infrastructure projects, and that it will also find ways to help small and medium enterprises. 財經事務及庫務局長陳家強表示，目前不適宜加稅。陳家強表示，政府投資基建，以刺激經濟，並設法幫助中小企。
9/11/08	A Principal Investigator with the ICAC, Alan Wu, died in a traffic accident in Tai Po. The Commissioner of the ICAC, Timothy Tong, said staff at the commission were shocked and deeply saddened by Mr. Wu's death and would like to express their deepest condolences to his family. 廉署首席調查主任胡達新在大埔發生的交通意外中逝世，廉政專員湯顯表示，他和廉署職員對胡達新的逝世感到震驚與悲痛。他代表廉署仝人，向其家人致以深切慰問。
8/11/08	Major local banks are cutting their best lending rates by 25 basis points from Monday, as fears grow over the state of the economy. They include HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and the Bank of China. It's the first reduction since March. 由於憂慮經濟狀況，多間主要銀行包括匯豐、渣打及中銀香港減低最優惠利率四分之一厘，下星期一起生效。這是自三月以來首次減息。
7/11/08	Hong Kong is already in a recession, according to a number of surveys. In one survey nearly half the companies interviewed are freezing recruitment, while another indicates several firms are considering pay cuts. Financial and property companies in Hong Kong have cut hundreds of employees in recent weeks. 根據幾項調查顯示，香港經濟已進入衰退期。一項調查發現近半受訪的公司正凍結招聘﹔另一項調查指出，幾間公司考慮減薪。金融及地產公司近週裁員數百人。
6/11/08	Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain to make history as the first black to be elected US president. In his victory speech, Mr. Obama said that "change has come to America." He said the American people faced some of their most serious challenges in 100 years but pleaded for time to heal and transform the superpower. 美國民主黨的奧巴馬擊敗共和黨麥凱恩，成為美國第一位黑人總統，創造歷史。奧巴馬在祝捷演詞表示：「改變已經到臨美國！」他表示，美國人民面對百年以來最嚴峻的挑戰，但祈求給與他時間去治癒及改革這個超級大國。
5/11/08	The Family Planning Association's survey found that an increasing number of women wanted to have fewer or no children, mainly because they married at an older age and had long working hours. 40 per cent of those without children said they would be more likely to be pregnant if they had flexible working hours and there were more childcare services in the community. 家計會的調查發現，愈來愈多婦女減少生育或不生育，主要原因是遲婚及工作時間太長。四成無孩婦女表示或會懷孕，如果有彈性上班時間及社區有更多兒童照管服務。
4/11/08	The Hong Kong Family Welfare Society said the financial tsunami has rocked marital relationships leading to more couples choosing to divorce or separate. At the same time more divorced couples are seeking help to reduce the amount of alimony. 香港家庭福利會表示，金融海嘯破壞婚姻關係，導致更多夫妻選擇離婚或分居。與此同時，更多離婚夫妻因調低贍養費事宜求助。
3/11/08	A study by St James’ Settlement charity has found that most low-income families cannot afford their children’s academic expenses. They have to cut down on their own food and transportation expenses so that they could cover extra tutorial classes for their children. The charity urges the government to spend more on students from low income families. 聖雅各福群會一項調查發現，不少低收入家庭未能負擔子女的學術開支，他們為送子女參加補習班而節省食物及交通開支。聖雅各福群會要求政府資助來自低收入家庭的學生。
2/11/08	The monthly mean temperature of October 2008 recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory is 26.5 degrees, the warmest since record began in 1884. This record-breaking temperature to a certain extent reflects the long-term warming trend in Hong Kong. 香港天文台今年錄得的十月份平均氣溫為 26.5 度，是自 1884 年有記錄以來最暖的十月。今次的高溫紀錄在一定程度上反映香港變暖的長期趨勢。
1/11/08	The government says the deficit this fiscal year is going to be much higher than expected. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Chan Ka-keung, said the shortfall could top 7.5 billion dollars. He said lower revenue from stamp duty, the financial crisis and higher welfare spending would all put pressure on the government's coffers. 政府表示，今個財政年度赤字高於預期。財經事務及庫務局局長陳家強表示，赤字將高達七十五億元。由於金融危機、印花稅收入下跌及福利支出增加，這些因素都令政府庫房承受壓力。
31/10/08	The Financial Secretary, John Tsang, has warned of tough times ahead for the economy. He painted a grim picture - forecasting more job cuts, slower growth and the increasing risk of a recession. But he said higher spending on public works would help to alleviate some of the impact. 財政司司長曾俊華警告，本港未來時間的經濟環境相當困難。他描繪可怕的情景﹕預料更多裁員，經濟增長放緩及經濟衰退的風險增大。但曾俊華表示，擴大基建措施，有助減輕一部分的影響。
30/10/08	Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged to help Hong Kong ride out the financial storm, saying the central government will not leave the city alone in difficult times. Mr. Wen urged the government to learn a lesson from the financial crisis and analyze fundamental problems in the financial sector. 總理溫家寶允諾，中央會鼎力支持香港渡過金融風暴，中央政府絕不會在困難的時候不顧香港。溫家寶要求特區政府吸取這次金融危機所帶給我們的教訓，分析金融界根本的問題。
29/10/08	The Task Force on Economic Challenges was set up and led by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen to assess the impact of the financial tsunami. The task force will formulate a work plan for the next few months. Tsang said the task force is small but with experience and collective wisdom. 行政長官曾蔭權成立「經濟機遇委員會」及擔任主席，以評估金融海嘯的影響。工作小組將會制訂未來幾個月的具體工作計畫。曾蔭權表示，委員會成員人數不多，但有經驗及集體智慧。
28/10/08	Legco's security panel yesterday passed a motion to set up a sub-committee to examine whether police officers abused their power in carrying out strip searches. Representatives from concern groups said that minority people, sex workers and protesters were strip searched as a way of insulting them. 立法會保安事務委員會通過動議成立小組委員會，研究警方是否濫權，脫光衣服搜身。有關注組織代表表示，少數族裔、性工作者及示威者都被脫光衣服搜身，以羞辱他們。
27/10/08	The Government is expanding health tests to include meat products and animal organs imported from China after the toxic chemical melamine was found in eggs from the mainland. The contaminated eggs produced by Dalian have raised fears that melamine may have been in wide use in animal feed in the mainland. 內地供港雞蛋被驗出含有三聚氰胺，政府將會擴大抽驗三聚氰胺範圍至內地進口的肉類和內臟。大連雞蛋被驗出三聚氰胺，令人擔心內地廣泛使用含三聚氰胺的飼料。
26/10/08	Legislator Lee Cheuk-yan was punched in the face while attending an open-air function in Tuen Mun. The Chief Secretary Henry Tang expressed sympathy with Mr Lee. He said Hong Kong was an open society, and violent acts against free speech would not be allowed. Mr Tang urged the public to show respect for other people's views. 立法會議員李卓人在屯門出席一項活動時遭揮拳毆。政務司長唐英年慰問李卓人。唐英年說，香港是開放的社會，不認同任何人以暴力方式阻止其他人表達觀點，希望市民尊重別人意見。
25/10/08	The Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, has bowed to public pressure and shelved a proposal to impose a means test on recipients of the old age allowance. Mr Tsang said the government had to focus on the financial crisis. He hoped the debate could take place at a later time. 行政長官曾蔭權屈服於公眾的壓力，擱置高齡津貼要引入入息審查。曾蔭權表示，政府要集中精力處理金融危機，他希望待適當時候才重新討論。
24/10/08	The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden in Central has become infested with rats that have been seen living and sharing food with the wild animals kept inside. Their presence prompted a microbiology professor to warn that infectious diseases might be passed from the rats to other animals. 中環動植物公園有鼠患，老鼠公然與籠內野生動物同吃同住。有微生物學教授警告，傳染病可能由老鼠傳播其他動物。
23/10/08	The Hong Kong government spokesman said the SAR had a constitutional duty to enact national security legislation but was now focussing on tackling economic and people's livelihood issues. The government would communicate with all sectors of the community in considering future legislation, with a view to securing consensus on future proposals. 港府發言人說，本港有憲制責任，制定國家安全法例，但當務之急是解決經濟和民生問題。日後考慮立法時，必定會與社會各界充分溝通，全力爭取整體社會對立法建議的共識。
22/10/08	Citic Pacific has replaced two finance executives after it discovered unauthorised currency bets which could lose it as much as 15.5 billion dollars. With investor confidence in Citic Pacific further shaken, its shares plunged 55 percent yesterday. 中信泰富發現有人未被授權而炒外幣，導致可能虧損逾百五億，兩名財務行政人員被撤換。對中信泰富投資信心動搖，中信泰富股價昨日暴跌五成半。
21/10/08	The unemployment rate has risen to 3.4 percent. Unemployment is mainly affecting the wholesale, retail, restaurant, manufacturing and financial sectors. The government expects unemployment is likely to rise further in the near term. It called on employers to consider job restructuring or sharing during the current difficult economic period. 失業率上升到3.4%，失業主要影響批發零售業、飲食業、製造業及金融業。政府預料失業率在短期內可能進一步上升，耍求僱主可考慮透過工作重組或調配，渡過這困難時期。
20/10/08	The Airport Authority says passenger numbers at Chek Lap Kok Airport fell 4.7 percent last month year-on-year, while the volume of cargo plunged 7.5 percent. Given the shrinking demand in the economic slowdown, airlines are expected to further scale back their operations or put their expansion plans on hold. 機場管理局表示，香港國際機場上月的載客量和運貨量分別較去年同期下降百分之四點七及百分之七點五。經濟放緩，需求減少，預計航空公司將縮小運作規模，或者暫時擱置擴展計畫。
19/10/08	The Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, said it would be impossible for the government to dish out money annually for short term relief measures. He said that it would not help the local economy if the government did things hastily, without assessing the full impact of the financial crisis. 行政長官曾蔭權表示，政府不能每年派錢做短期的紓困措施。若政府沒有評估金融危機的全面影響而「胡亂出招」，會不利香港經濟。
18/10/08	Tai Lin Radio Services shut its doors after 62 years in the electrical-appliance retail business. Analysts believe the global financial crisis will have a strong impact on the local retail industry as it will become more difficult for the retail sector to get loans from banks. 具 62年電器零售歷史的泰林電器倒閉。分析家相信環球金融危機對本地零售業有很大影響，由於零售業難以取得銀行融資。
17/10/08	Children's breakfast cereals may not be as healthy as they appear to be. According to a Consumer Council study, 14 of 15 children's breakfast cereals it tested contained excessive amounts of sugar which can lead to obesity. Eating a bowl of cereal with the highest amount of sugar would come to about one-fourth of the daily standard. 兒童穀類早餐食品並不是看來好像健康的。消委會測試15款兒童穀類早餐食品，其中14款的總糖含量偏高，會導致肥胖。吃一碗糖含量高的穀類早餐，便攝取約四分一的每天熱量標準。
16/10/08	The government is considering raising the old age allowance to HK$1,000 a month but it may be granted only to those who pass a means test. The proposal was rejected by various political parties, saying that it shows a lack of respect, and is an act of contempt to the needs and the dignity of senior citizens. 政府正考慮將高齡津貼增至1000元，但申請人須接受資產審查。不同政黨拒絕接受這個建議，表示這是對長者不敬，蔑視長者的需要和尊嚴。
15/10/08	The government will use the exchange fund to give a 100 percent guarantee for bank deposits. It will also provide additional capital to banks if necessary. The Financial Secretary, John Tsang, said the measures were precautionary in nature and aimed at further safeguarding banking stability. 政府將會運用外匯基金，為全港銀行存戶，提供百分之百的擔保。有需要時，政府亦會為銀行提供額外資本。財政司長曾俊華表示，新措施屬預防性質，為保障銀行體系健全。
14/10/08	According to the Hong Kong University Public Opinion Program, what the people want to hear from the policy address tomorrow is economic development. The second area of concern is labour and employment, followed by medical policies and social welfare. The least interested area is politics. 根據香港大學民意研究計畫，經濟發展問題是市民最希望在明天公布的《施政報告》中聽到的。市民其次關心勞工就業、醫療政策及社會福利問題。最不感興趣是政治。
13/10/08	The Chief Secretary, Henry Tang, says the global financial tsunami will have a negative impact on Hong Kong, given the territory's small and open economy. He is calling on the public to unite and ride out the crisis, adding that the local economic fundamentals have been sound over the past few years. 政務司司長唐英年昨亦表示，全球金融海嘯會為香港帶來負面衝擊，因香港是開放而小型的經濟。他說過去幾年香港有不錯的基礎，他呼籲市民團結一致，安然渡過危機。
12/10/08	About 700 students and teachers from 4 schools rallied in Central to call for the government to fund their Form 4 classes. The four schools are set to lose Form Four funding after failing to attract enough students for next year's Form 4 classes . Some p rotestors criticized the government for discriminating against band three students. 約 700名學生和教師在中環集會，要求政府資助中四學位。這四間中學由於招收不足夠的中四學生，明年不獲資助開辦中四。有遊行人士批評政府歧視第三組別的學生。
11/10/08	The Association of Banks says most of its members are positive about the government's proposal to buy back Lehman Brothers minibonds. The group's chairman said most banks are willing to work closely with legal and financial advisers to help the bond holders recover losses. 銀行公會表示，大部分銀行對政府建議相關銀行向投資者回購雷曼迷你債券的方案反應正面。公會主席表示，大部分銀行願意與法律及財務顧問緊密合作，幫助投資者取得賠償。
10/10/08	U-right fashion chain closed down its 20 shops yesterday and 160 workers were laid off. The parent company, U-Right International Holdings, went into liquidation - with debts of $1.3 billion. It is feared that more retailers may close over the next few months as the impact of the financial tsunami starts to bite. 服裝連鎖店U-right昨日關閉二十間店舖，一百六十名員工被遣散。U-right母公司佑威國際控股有限公司因欠十三億債務遭入稟清盤。金融海嘯影響，末來數月可能有更多零售店倒閉。
9/10/08	Three Liberal Party legislators quit the party. The resignations came a day before the party was to choose a new chairman. They say they have not been able to communicate with the party, and are dissatisfied with the way that it handled failures in the Legco election. 自由黨立法會三名議員退黨，他們在自由黨選新主席前夕呈辭。他們表示不能與黨溝通，及不滿黨處理立法會選舉失利的方法。
8/10/08	Affected by the financial tsunami, some grave-sweepers opted for paper suckling pigs as offerings. However, the financial tsunami did not prevent families from paying respects to the departed with tens of thousands flocking to graveyards throughout the Chung Yeung Festival. 受金融海嘯影響，有掃墓者選擇紙乳豬祭品。然而，金融海嘯不能阻止家人尊敬先人，重陽節整日，數以千計的人蜂擁到墓場掃墓。
7/10/08	The government is urging distributing banks to buy back Lehman Brothers mini bond s from investors at their estimated market value, providing bond holders a quicker way to get their money back . 80 percent of the bond holders are expected to recover 60 to 70 percent of their investments. 政府促請分銷雷曼迷你債券銀行根據市價作估值向投資者回購債券，讓苦主盡快取回款項，有約八成迷債投資者可以取回六至七成剩餘價值。
6/10/08	The Executive Council has agreed to a land swap that will allow the Housing Society to develop the first integrated community project for the elderly and create up to 800 jobs in Tin Shui Wai. The Housing Society will develop a major housing complex in Tin Shui Wai, containing homes and recreational facilities for the elderly. 行政會議同意，以交換土地方式，讓香港房屋協會在天水圍興建首個長者綜合社區，創造八百個就業機會。房協將會發展一個大型長者住房社區，區內有住宅和康樂設施。
5/10/08	Dozens of people, who bought financial products issued by Lehman Brothers at the Bank of China, were refused entry to the bank's headquarters in Central. They accused the bank of conspiring to defraud them. 數十名在中銀購買了雷曼相關產品的市民，被拒進入中銀香港總部，他們指責中銀訛騙。
4/10/08	The government has launched a first round of public consultation on whether changes are needed to the law on obscene and indecent material. The public will be consulted in seven areas. These include strengthening existing regulations to prevent the dissemination of obscene material on the internet. 政府就檢討淫褻及不雅物品管制條例展開首輪公眾諮詢，聽取公眾對七個範疇的意見，包括加強現行條例，防止在互聯網上散播淫褻物品。
3/10/08	A 29-year-old doctor was accused of taking photos of female patients during body checks with a pinhole camera from his clinic. He was arrested after photographs of exposed female patients were found at his home. Doctors convicted of professional misconduct can be removed from the registry. 一名29歲醫生被控在診所內放置一部針孔相機，偷拍在診所作婦科檢查的女病人。警方在該醫生家中搜出女病人暴露的相片，將他拘捕。醫生被判專業行為失當會被除牌。
2/10/08	Zhang Wei, a rising Hong Kong gymnastic star who fell from the uneven bars during a practice session, was recovering after a successful five-hour operation yesterday. Zhang represented her school at the Hong Kong Inter-school Gymnastics Competition in April, winning gold at the floor exercise, parallel bars and individual all-around. 香港體操新星張微，練習高低槓時失手跌落地受傷，昨進行五小時手術後康復。張微今年四月代表學校在校際體操比賽中取得自由體操、平衡木及個人全能金牌。
1/10/08	The melamine food scandal is continuing to spread. Lipton's 3 in 1 milk tea and Ritz cheese biscuits are the latest popular products to fall into the tainted category. The distributor of the powdered milk tea has ordered a recall of three types of the product in Hong Kong and Macau. 繼續有食品發現含有三聚氰胺，立頓三合一奶茶及利脆芝士夾心餅被新列入受三聚氰胺毒害之品牌產品類別。奶茶經銷商指令，在香港和澳門回收 3款產品。
30/9/08	Legislator Leung Kwok-hung was sentenced to 60 hours of community service for staging an unlawful protest outside the private home of then housing minister Michael Suen Ming-yeung. The magistrate told Leung to "use his wits" in fighting for rights. 立法會議員梁國雄早前闖入時任房屋及規劃地政局長孫明揚居住的私人寓所示威，被判60小時社會服務令。裁判官寄語梁國雄抗爭要有要理智。
29/9/08	More than 300 buyers of Lehman Brothers mini-bonds marched to government headquarters, demanding regulation on the sale of high-risk products. Some investors said they were encouraged by bank staff to switch their investments to the higher-yield mini-bonds, but were not informed of the underlying risks. 超過300名投資雷曼迷你債券的受害人，遊行至政府總部，要求立例監管高風險產品。有投資者表示，銀行職員游說他們將投資轉換成高收益的迷你債券，但沒有說潛在的風險。
28/9/08	A 34 year-old man was arrested for allegedly posting a message on an online forum urging people to withdraw deposits from a local Bank, saying it would go bankrupt. The man is being detained for accessing a computer with criminal or dishonest intent -- a charge that carries a five-year prison term. 警方拘捕一名 34歲男子，懷疑他於網上討論區散播消息，指本港一間銀行將破產，並呼籲公眾將存款提取。該名男子干犯有犯罪或不誠實意圖而取用電腦之罪名被捕，一經定罪，可被判處監禁五年。
27/9/08	Nine more people from a local insurance company were arrested yesterday over a forged letter, which spread rumours that American International Assurance was to be sold by its parent company. An industry source speculated the incident could be an attempt to hit the rival by taking over policyholders. 警方再拘捕多9人，全部從事保險業，涉及製造虛假文件，訛稱美國友邦保險業務會被母公司出售。業內消息推測，事件企圖打擊對手以騙取客戶轉投。
26/9/08	China launched its third manned space flight the Shenzhou 7 , carrying three astronauts on a 68-hour mission that will include the nation's first ever space walk. President Hu Jintao described the first spacewalk mission as a great stride for the country's space technology and development. 中國發射第三次載人飛行航天飛船神舟七號，載有三名太空人作 68小時任務，包括首次太空漫步。國家主席胡錦濤形容首次太空漫步為國家航天史新里程碑。
25/9/08	There has been a run on the Bank of East Asia with long queues of customers formed outside its branches to withdraw their savings on rumours about the bank in difficulties. But the bank has insisted that there is no problem with its financial status and the rumours were malicious. 謠傳東亞銀行不穩，令東亞多間分行出現排隊人潮，提取存款。東亞銀行強調銀行財政穩健，有關謠傳是惡意的。
24/9/08	The Centre for Food Safety said melamine tests on Four Seas Cake (strawberry flavor) showed more than twice the permitted amount. The chemical was also found in White Rabbit Creamy Candies. The center said importers had agreed to recall the products. 食物安全中心驗出士多啤梨味的「四洲蛋糕」，三聚氰胺含量超標一倍半；「大白兔奶糖」亦發現含有三聚氰胺。中心表示入口商同意回收受影響產品。
23/9/08	The government is opening 18 more clinics to test children whose health may have been affected by drinking contaminated mainland milk. There were angry scenes at Princess Margaret hospital yesterday as hundreds of parents and children queued at the hospital. They complained about the chaos and long waits. 政府開放多18間門診，為食用懷疑受污染內地牛奶的幼兒進行檢驗。昨日數百名家長帶同子女到瑪嘉烈醫院輪候檢查，他們不滿醫院安排混亂及長時間輪候。
22/9/08	A survey found 88 percent of teachers polled feeling enormous stress at work and 13 percent were suffering from general anxiety disorder. The poll found the highest cause of stress among teachers to be self evaluation and school inspections, followed by taking care of emotional and behavioural problems of students. 一項調查發現，88%受訪教師感覺沉重的工作壓力，13%患上「經常焦慮症」。調查發現，教師壓力主要來自自我評核和校本評核，接著是照顧情緒及行為問題學生。
21/9/08	About a hundred Hong Kong people, who bought Lehman Brothers mini-bonds, sought help from the Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission. They said they were misled into buying the investment products. They claimed staff didn't properly explain the risks they were taking. 近一百名購買雷曼迷你債券的市民，向金管局與證監會求助，表示銀行職員游說他們買證券時，沒有解釋清楚風險，誤導他們。
20/9/08	The supermarket chains Park'n Shop and Wellcome have removed a leading brand of mainland liquid milk, Mengniu, from their shelves. The mainland authorities revealed that liquid milk had been tainted with melamine. Wellcome said it was to protect the interests of consumers. 百佳及惠康超級市場已將所有蒙牛液體牛奶的貨品下架。內地政府揭露，液體牛奶被三聚氰胺污染。惠康表示要保護消費者利益。
19/9/08	The Centre for Food Safety has ordered the recall of all Yili products from Hong Kong stores after eight of them were found to contain melamine that has caused the deaths of four mainland babies and made more than 6,000 others ill. Hong Kong officials have warned against consuming any Yili products. 化驗顯示八類伊利牌產品含有三聚氰胺，三聚氰胺令內地四名幼童死亡，六千名病倒。食物安全中心要求回收所有伊利牌產品，政府官員警告不要購買伊利牌產品。
18/9/08	A mainland woman received a three-year jail term after she admitted attacking her Hong Kong husband with a chopper when he confessed to having an affair with an Indonesian maid. The counsel for the defense said the woman committed the offense out of jealousy. She had been dumped by a previous boyfriend before marrying her husband. 一名內地婦人在丈夫供認曾經與印傭有染後，以菜刀襲擊香港丈夫，她認罪，被判囚三年。辯方律師指，婦人因妒忌而犯案，她嫁給丈夫前，曾遭男友拋棄。
17/9/08	The Wellcome supermarket chain is recalling ice lollies made by mainland manufacturer Yili, after government tests found one sample contained the industrial chemical melamine. The chain is also suspending sales of other dairy products produced by the company. Melamine was recently found in powdered milk on the mainland produced by another company, Sanlu. 政府在一樣本中驗出含有工業化學製品三聚氰胺，惠康正回收內地生產「伊利牌」雪條及停止售賣其他「伊利牌」奶製品。內地最近在三鹿奶粉中發現三聚氰胺。
16/9/08	The Hong Kong Women Teachers' Organisation interviewed over 3,000 students and found only a quarter of them would report cheating in exams. Forty percent of them admitted copying homework from others. The group says many Hong Kong students are unable to tell the difference between right and wrong and it is laying the blame on parents. 香港女教師協會調查超過3000名學生，發現只有四分一人會舉報同學作弊，四成人承認抄功課。協會認為，學生不能分辨是非，協會把責任歸咎家長。
15/9/08	Six men were arrested yesterday after a 36-year-old man was killed in a fight on the eve of Mid-Autumn Festival in Big Wave Bay . Two groups of people quarrelled over each other making too much noise. The minor argument then developed into fierce fighting. 中秋節前夕大浪灣發生打鬥，一名 36歲男子被殺。兩批人為噪音問題爭執，後演變成武鬥。
14/9/08	1,600 school teachers held a protest march to urge the Government to implement small-class teaching in under-enrolled schools if student numbers fall, instead of simply closing them down. The Professional Teachers Union warned that some teachers may start boycotting classes if negotiations with the Government next week fall through. 1600名教師遊行，要求政府在收生不足學校推行小班教學，代替殺校。教育專業人員協會警告，若下星期與政府談判失敗，或會有教師罷課。
13/9/08	Speaking at the Certificate Presentation Ceremony" under the "Teachers' Commendation Scheme", the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, commended teachers on their positive attitude in meeting the ever-increasing demands of the teaching profession. "Most teachers proactively pursue continuing professional development to improve their teaching effectiveness," he said. 教育局局長孫明揚在「表揚教師計劃」表揚狀頒發典禮上讚揚教師能以積極進取的態度來面對要求日高的教學工作；他說：「大多數教師都積極地持續進修，以提升教學水平。」
12/9/08	The father of a nine-year-old boy has prevented his son from attending school since May after an argument over a HK$35 transportation charge for a school picnic. The father maintains the charge is unreasonable. "We must not surrender our principles. If necessary, sacrifices must be made," he said. 一名九歲男童父親不滿校方收取35元旅行費，於5月起禁止兒子上學。他認為收費不合理。他表示，「我們不應放棄原則，有必要時，要作出犧牲。」
11/9/08	MTR passengers will save time and enjoy fare reductions of up to HK$9 from September 28 because the interchange ticketing gates will be removed at interchange stations. Students with specially coded Octopus cards will also benefit from fare reductions of 50 percent of regular fares. 在今個月28日起，港鐵乘客將會節省時間及享受高達九元減費，因為在轉線車站的閘機將會拆除。持有個人八達通的學生，亦可享有半價優惠。
10/9/08	A businessman, his wife and their two-year-old son died in their luxury villa. A basin containing burnt-out charcoal was found near them. The man left a suicide note in which he said he "had once done something very wrong in his life" and that he and his wife had decided to kill themselves and their only child. 一名商人、其太太及2歲兒子在他們的豪華村屋死亡，旁有鐵鑊，炭已燒成灰燼。男死者留下遺書，稱自己曾犯了大錯，決定與妻子及兒子自盡。
9/9/08	Liberal Party leader James Tien Pei-chun and his deputy Selina Chow Liang Shuk- yee resigned yesterday, accepting responsibility for the party's loss in the Legislative Council election. Chow blamed the party's failure on the low turnout, saying their supporters tended to be moderate and less conscious about politics. 田北俊和周梁淑怡已辭去自由黨正副主席，承擔自由黨在立法會選舉失敗的責任。周太把失敗歸因於低投票率，自由黨票源主要來自溫和或政治觸覺不敏銳的選民。
8/9/08	Only 45 percent of the registered voters turned out to vote in yesterday’s Legislative Council elections. The turnout rate was much lower than 2004's 55.6 percent. The Liberal Party was the big loser, losing all three directly elected seats. Its chairman James Tien has stepped down. 昨日立法會選舉只有45％登記選民投票，遠低於2004年的55.6％。自由黨是今次選舉大輸家，三個地區直選全失敗，田北俊已辭去主席職位。
7/9/08	Treading on the heels of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games was open yesterday. The LCSD will run the Olympic Live Site in Shatin for the Paralympic Games today to enhance the ambience of the Paralympic Games and encourage active public participation in related activities. 緊隨北京 2008 年奧運會，殘奧會在昨天開幕。康文署於今日在沙田設立「香港奧運文化廣場」，以增添殘奧會氣氛，吸引市民積極投入殘奧會活動。
6/9/08	A funeral with full honours was held yesterday for Chan Siu-lung, the 25-year-old fireman who died while saving lives in one of the city's worst fires in years. Hundreds of mourners bid farewell to the hero. 在救火中殉職的 25 歲消防員陳兆龍，昨日以最高榮譽儀式舉殯，數百名哀悼者向救火英雄道別。
5/9/08	The Centre for Health Protection says another child died of a mystery disease. There have been seven cases of child death linked to infectious diseases since March this year. The six-year- old girl developed fever, abdominal pain, headache and vomiting on Monday and died yesterday. The girl visited Guangdong last month. 衛生防護中心表示，再有一名兒童死於神秘疾病。三月至今，已有七名兒童死亡個案與傳染病有關。6歲女童本周一發燒、喉嚨痛及作嘔，昨日死亡。女童上月曾經到廣東。
4/9/08	Suicide Prevention Services has found about 1,000 internet blog sites on which students say they have worries about the new school term. It intends to work together with Yahoo to tackle the problem. A suicide prevention hotline number will pop up whenever someone searches for words related to suicide. 生命熱線發現近千個網誌，有學生聲稱因開學而有煩惱。生命熱線計劃與雅虎網站合作，以對付問題。當有人搜尋「自殺」相關字眼，網站會顯示出生命熱線防止自殺的電話號碼。
3/9/08	A Buddhist monk who holds a master's degree yesterday admitted possessing child pornography. The monk said he bought the two discs out of curiosity in Malaysia for HK$50 each a few years ago. He provided counselling at Chuk Lam Shin Yuen and was paid HK$4,000 a month. 一名擁有碩士學位的僧人，承認藏有兒童色情物品。僧人稱，出於好奇心，數年前在馬來西亞以每張50港元價錢購入涉案兩張光碟。僧人在竹林禪院內擔任輔導的工作，月入4000元。
2/9/08	An early morning fire in a village house in Yuen Long killed 21 cats and 11 dogs that were locked up in four cages. Firemen believed the blaze might have been started deliberately. A divorced woman said she had run the shelter for stray and abandoned animals for 13 years. 元朗一間村屋凌晨起火，鎖在鐵籠內的21隻貓和11隻狗燒死，消防員相信是縱火案。一名離婚婦人表示，她收養被遺棄流浪動物達十三年。
1/9/08	According to a survey, about one-third of students in Hong Kong feel nervous and worried about the new school year. They were worried the curriculum in the new school year would be too difficult for them. Parents should pay attention to their children's emotional problems. 根據一項調查需，約三成學生對新學年覺得緊張和恐懼，學生擔心課程太深。家長應多留意學生的情緒問題。
31/8/08	China 's Olympic gold medalists received a warm welcome from the public while showing off their skills on the second day of their visit. Amid cheers and applause, the athletes displayed their skills in diving, gymnastics, table tennis and badminton. 訪港的中國奧運金牌運動員展開第二日行程，示範表演跳水、體操、乒乓球和羽毛球，表演得到在場觀眾歡呼喝采。
30/8/08	Two firemen who died during a firefighting operation at Cornwall Court , in Mong Kok, are to receive posthumous awards for bravery. The two firemen sacrificed their own lives to save others. 旺角嘉禾大廈五級火中殉職的兩名消防員，獲追授金英勇勳章，表揚他們英勇和捨己為人的精神。
29/8/08	Hong Kong and the mainland signed an agreement for the supply of natural gas and nuclear electricity to the SAR over the coming 20 years. The agreement would ensure the stability of power supplies. It also holds out the prospect of cleaner air. 香港與內地簽訂備忘錄，確保香港未來20年的天然氣和核電供應。協議確保未來能源供應穩定，及改善空氣質素。
28/8/08	A 19-year-old woman was killed yesterday when a 100-year-old coral tree split in half and fell on her head in Stanley. A tree expert said it was eroded by fungus. The government last night pledged to inspect the city's 400-plus landmark trees within a month. 赤柱一棵百年刺桐昨日斷裂，擊向一名19歲少女頭部，少女不治。一名樹木專家表示，刺桐被真菌侵蛀。政府昨夜承諾，在一個月內檢查全港四百多棵地標樹。
27/8/08	Thirteen fruit stall operators were fined from $10,000 to $300 in the first seven months of this year after pleading guilty to supplying fruit of short weight. In seven cases, the weighing equipment was defective. In the remaining 10 cases, stall owners claimed a weight heavier than the actual one. 本年首七個月，共有十三名水果商販因曾供應不足秤的水果予顧客，分別被判罰款一萬元至三百元不等。七名水果商販使用不準確量重器具，其餘十名水果商販則口頭向顧客誇大水果重量。
26/8/08	A drug addict who left his 22-month-old son at home alone was given one year's probation. The boy was found crying in the corridor and suffered minor chemical burns. In sentencing, the magistrate said the accused must beat his drug addiction and learn how to be a better father. 一名有毒癮的男子因為獨留一歲零10個月大的兒子在家中，被判接受感化。男童被發現在走廊哭泣，身體多處化學燒傷。裁判官判刑時表示，被告要戒除毒癮及學習如何管教子女。
25/8/08	The Olympic flame went out in Beijing last night, marking the end of the 16 days of competition by 204 nations during which 38 world and 85 Olympic records were broken. China exceeded its target by winning 51 gold medals, the most by any nation in recent history. 北京奧運會昨晚聖火熄滅，象徵來自204個國家參與16天的比賽結束，其間創造了38項新世界紀錄及85項新奧運紀錄。中國超越目標，奪得51金，成為近代歷史上取得金牌最多的國家。
24/8/08	The chief of the Olympic equestrian company, Lam Woon-kwong, declared the competition was a success. Mr Lam gave credit to the staff and the volunteers of the equestrian company as well as the spectators. 奧運馬術公司行政總裁林煥光宣稱，馬術賽事成功。林煥光讚揚公司員工、義工及觀眾。
23/8/08	Typhoon Nuri scored a direct hit on Hong Kong, causing the No 9 typhoon signal to be hoisted for eleven hours. It was the highest signal issued by the Observatory for five years. Hong Kong came to a standstill, with businesses closed and transport disrupted. 颱風鸚鵡直接吹襲本港，天文台掛出五年來第一次的九號風球，長達 11小時。受到風暴影響，香港陷於停頓，商店關門，交通停頓。
22/8/08	The overall consumer prices rose by 6.3% in July 2008 over a year earlier. The sustained increase in food prices and the faster increase in private housing rents pushed up inflation. The government spokesman pointed out that the inflation outlook for the rest of the year is rather uncertain. 七月份整體消費物價與一年前同期比較，上升 6.3% 。食品價格持續上漲和私人房屋租金漲幅加大推高通脹。政府發言人指出，今年餘下時間的通脹前景頗為不明朗。
21/8/08	China's Olympic Gold Medal winners will arrive in Hong Kong next Friday for a three-day courteous and sports demonstration visit. The government has denied that the visit is related to next month's Legislative Council elections. 中國奧運金牌運動員將於下星期五抵港，進行三天親善訪問和示範表演。政府否認訪港活動是與下星期立法會選舉有關。
20/8/08	Quality of life in Hong Kong is expected to drop this year because of rising housing costs and inflation, according to a study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Six indicators in the index worsen and thirteen improved. Indicators such as government performance and the overall crime rate have continued to show improvements. 中大調查顯預測，今年生活質素轉差，主要是受通脹加劇及租金上升影響。有六個指標轉差，十三個指標進步。港人對政府表現及罪案率持續改善。
19/8/08	Star athlete Liu Xiang broke a billion hearts when he withdrew from the 110-metres hurdle owing to a foot injury. Tens of thousands of the spectators left the stadium, their dreams in ruins. But the internet on the mainland has been flooded with messages from people praising him for his courage and wishing him a speedy recovery. 體壇明星劉翔因為腳部受傷，退出110米欄賽，他的退賽令舉國心碎。數以千計觀眾離場，他們的夢也破滅。但內地互聯網上，讚賞劉翔勇氣的信息像雪片般飛來，祝福他早日痊癒。
18/8/08	A study has shown that more and more underaged girls are going into "compensated dating". They believe that compensated dating differ from sex work because they have a choice of clients. But these young girls are not aware that they can suffer from physical and psychological harm should they be forced to serve violent clients. 一項研究結果顯示，越來越多未成年少女加入援交行列。她們認為自己可選擇顧客，與一般賣淫活動不同。但援交少女不知道，她們可能會遭遇身心身損害，如果她們被迫接待暴力顧客。
17/8/08	The Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, announced the setting up of a committee to look into issues surrounding the employment of senior civil servants after retirement. Mr Tsang said that there is no need for the Civil Service Secretary, Denise Yue to step down. 行政長官曾蔭權宣佈成立一個委員會，全面檢討高級公務員離職後申請再就業問題。曾蔭權表示，公務員事務局長俞宗怡毋須辭職。
16/8/08	Former housing chief Leung Chin-man agreed to terminate his employment contract with a New World Development subsidiary with immediate effect , hours after the chief executive ordered a review into the decision to let him take up the post. 前房屋主管梁展文與新世界一附屬公司協議解除僱員合約，即時生效。早前，行政長官要求重新評估批淮梁展文任職之決定。
15/8/08	Two suspicious objected were found on busy Nathan Road yesterday and were later dismantled by bomb disposal experts. Police described the bomb hoaxes were acts of pure mischief and there was no evidence to suggest the incidents were linked to the Olympics. 彌敦道鬧巿昨日先後發現兩個可疑物品，其後被拆彈專家拆除。警方形容炸彈惡作劇完全是胡鬧，無證據顯示事件與奧運關。
14/8/08	A 55-year-old woman was sentenced to 32 months in jail for splashing corrosive acid on her husband. The woman and her husband had been sweethearts since they were 10 and married at the age of 20. She committed the offence out of suspicion that her husband had been having an affair. 一名55歲婦人向丈夫潑腐蝕性液體，被判監32個月。被告與丈夫自十歲時相戀，二十歲結婚。被告懷疑丈夫有私通而犯案。
13/8/08	An RTHK caller yesterday tearfully recounted how 25-year-old fireman Chan Siu-lung sacrificed his life to save her and her mother in the Cornwall Court fire. Chan and took off his oxygen mask when he noticed she and her mother were finding it hard to breathe. 一名哭泣的嘉禾大廈居民昨日致電香港電台，敘述25歲消防員陳兆龍怎樣在大火中捨身救她和母親。當陳兆龍見到她和母親呼吸困難時，便脫下氧氣罩給她們。
12/8/08	The Fire Services Department plans to inspect all karaoke establishments in old buildings within one month. The government said Cornwall Court - the building that caught fire on Sunday - was built in 1962, and was on the top of a list of buildings due to be inspected under fire regulations that came into effect last year. 消防處計劃在未來一個月內，巡查所有開設在舊式樓宇的卡拉 OK場所。政府表示，星期日發生火警的嘉禾大廈，1962年建成，屬去年生效消防安全條例下首先巡查的樓宇。
11/8/08	Two firefighters, an elderly woman and a person believed to be a nightclub employee were killed yesterday morning in a fifth alarm fire in Mongkok. A total of 55 people including three firemen were taken to hospitals for treatment. 兩名消防員、一名老婦及一名相信是夜總會僱員在旺角五級火警中死亡，五十五人，包括三名消防員，送院治理。
10/8/08	Two protesters were ejected from yesterday's Olympics equestrian competition in Shatin for attempting to display political messages. The Equestrian Company said both protesters were clearly and deliberately flouting house rules and they will be banned from future Olympics events. 昨晨馬術賽事舉行期間，兩名示威者在場內企圖展示政治標語，被逐出場。馬術公司說，兩人刻意破壞規則，日後都不准再入場觀賽。
9/8/08	China 's Olympic dream became a reality -- a spectacular three-and-a-half hour opening ceremony was held at the National Stadium in Beijing . The opening ceremony lived up to all expectations, treating 90,000 spectators and 4 billion television viewers around the world to a magical night. 中國實現了奧運夢，三個多小時的奧運開幕禮在國家體育場舉行，場面壯麗。開幕禮不負眾望－九萬名觀眾及全球40億電視觀眾歡度一個迷人夜晚。
8/8/08	Today is China's time in the world spotlight. Yao Ming will proudly carry the Chinese flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in the Bird's Nest stadium at 8.08 tonight, to be followed by a parade of athletes from 205 nations and regions. 中國在今日是舉世注視的中心。2008北京奧運會今晚8時在北京「鳥巢」運動場揭幕，姚明將任中國的旗手。接著，205個國家及地區的運動員列隊進場。
7/8/08	Students and parents braved the storm to queue up outside schools for form six placements despite the Education Bureau's announcement that the fourth-stage Secondary Six admission placement was postponed until today. 有學生及家長冒著暴風在學校門外等候申請中六學位。教育局宣佈，第四階段中六收生程序順延在今日進行。
6/8/08	There will be a radical change in funding for the Hong Kong - Zhuhai- Macau Bridge . The bridge will be funded entirely by government money and loans - instead of by the private sector. Hong Kong , Macau and Guangdong governments, as well as the central government will shoulder 42 percent of the cost. The rest will be raised through loans. 港珠澳大橋融資方法有重大改變，由政府取代私人提供資金，香港、澳門、廣東及中央承擔 42 ％，其餘以發債等方式融資。
5/8/08	The Hong Kong police expressed serious concern about the attack in Xinjiang which killed 16 policemen. The assistant commissioner for operations, Suen Kwai-leung, said the police were keeping a close eye on possible terrorist targets, such as the mass transport system and power supplies. 新疆發生恐怖襲擊，十六名警員被殺，香港警方表示十分關注事件。助理警務處長孫貴良表示，警方正密切注視有可能受恐怖襲擊的目標如地鐵及電力公司。
4/8/08	Fifteen candidates earned straight A's in this year's Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. A total of 55,260 candidates met the minimum requirements of Secondary Six admission. 67.9 % achieved a rating of level 2 or higher in English. 15名考生在今年中學會考中考獲全優成績，5.5萬名考生達到入讀中六最低要求，英文科達2級或以上的比率約67.9%。
3/8/08	People attending Olympic Equestrian events are urged to avoid wearing clothing that displays large and obvious advertising messages. The rules apply not only to competitors, but spectators as well. Clothing bearing small trademarks should not pose a problem. 觀眾入場看奧運馬術比賽，避免穿有明顯廣告信息的衣服。條規適用於運動員和觀眾。標有細小商標的衣服應不造成問題。
2/8/08	A two-week nomination period for September's Legislative Council election has closed. 55 lists have been registered for geographical constituencies- the highest number since the handover. Meanwhile, 13 seats in the functional constituencies are returned unopposed. 九月立法會選舉提名結束， 55 張名單參與地區直選，是回歸以來最多直選名單。功能組別 13 人自動當選。
1/8/08	The Transport Advisory Committee endorsed a new structure for urban taxi fares aimed at tackling discount taxis as well as dealing with inflation. Under the scheme, people who take taxis on short trips will pay more and those taking longer journeys will pay less. 交通諮詢委員會通過市區的士收費新結構，旨在對付折扣的士及應付通脹。新收費方案將實施「短途加、長途減」。
31/7/08	The Executive Council endorsed the suspension of the maids' levy for two years, beginning on August 1. The start date comes a month earlier than planned after widespread criticism of the situation. Employers will also be allowed to renew existing contracts without requiring their helpers to leave Hong Kong . 行政會議通過提早在下月一日落實暫時豁免外傭徵款兩年。受到廣泛的批評後，豁免「外傭稅」措施提前一個月生效。僱主亦可容許重新續約，傭工不需要離境。
30/7/08	Three men were sentenced to between 30 and 42 months in jail for intentionally inflicting bodily harm on a mentally handicapped man. Two men and a woman were also sentenced to rehabilitation and training centres. District Court judge said the court had a responsibility to protect the vulnerable. 一名弱智男子被 6名男女嚴重傷害，其中3名被告分別判入獄2年半至3年半，另外2男1女被判入更生中心及教導所。法官表示，法庭有責任保護弱勢社群。
29/7/08	Influenced by high air circulation from Typhoon Fung-wong, Hong Kong recorded its worst-ever air pollution and exceptionally high temperatures yesterday. The air pollution index reached an unprecedented 202 in Tap Mun. Temperatures soared to 36 degrees Celsius in many areas. 受颱風鳳凰外圍氣流影響，本港昨日錄得歷來最差空氣污染指數及異常高溫，塔門空氣污染指數高達二百零二歷史新高，多個地區氣溫高達 36℃。
28/7/08	Commissioner of Police Tang King-shing said yesterday that there was no need for Hong Kong to raise its security threat level at this stage. However, he stressed that the police will keep in close contact with the authorities in mainland China and participating countries during the Games. 警務處長鄧竟成表示，本港暫時毋須提升保安級別。鄧竟成強調，在奧運期間警方會與內地及有份參與奧運的國家緊密交流。
27/7/08	An official with the Beijing Olympics organisers said he regretted the heated exchanges between public security officials and Hong Kong news reporters. He also said the massive number of people who turned up for tickets yesterday was beyond all expectations. 北京奧組委一名官員表示，對公安與香港記者的激烈爭吵感到遺憾。他表示，出現大量的人購票是意料之外。
26/7/08	A senior police inspector died after being found with a gun shot wound at Police Headquarters in Wanchai. The police said it would not rule out the possibility of a suicide. The police commissioner, Tang King-sing, said the incident was regrettable, and that welfare officers had contacted the inspector's family to offer assistance. 一名高級督察在灣仔警察總部中槍死亡，警方不排除是自殺。警務處長鄧竟成對事件深感惋惜，警察福利部已與死者家人聯絡，提供協助。
25/7/08	Cheung Kam-kay, Commissioner of the Export Credit Insurance Corporation, was forced to resign over allegations that he used public money for "personal entertainment" on business trips to the mainland. The allegations were made through an anonymous letter. 出口信用保險局總監張錦基被迫辭職，一封匿名信指控他以公帑北上娛樂。
24/7/08	Falling residential transaction volume has led to impending large-scale staff cuts in the city's leading real estate agency. Centaline Property Agency executive director Louis Chan Wing-kit yesterday said the agency has sent out warning letters to 600 staff over unsatisfactory performances. 住宅成交量下跌導致本港大地產代理行即將大規模裁員。中原董事總經理陳永傑昨日表示，公司已向 600 名表現不符合要求的代理發警告信。
23/7/08	Hundreds of Watsons Water transport workers have ended a two day strike over pay. The row came to an end when the two sides reached a deal after five hours of talks. The company agreed to give higher commission to drivers and delivery workers. 屈臣氏蒸餾水運輸部工人結束兩日罷工，雙方經過五小時談判後達成共識，工潮告一段落，公司同意調升司機及跟車工人佣金。
22/7/08	Hong Kong 's consumer prices rose 6.1 percent in June over a year earlier - the most in almost 11 years. The rise in the annual rate was mainly due to substantial increases in private housing rentals, fuel prices , the price of rice and bus fares. Rice prices last month surged 64 percent compared with June last year. 本港消費物價指上月按年急升至百分之六點一，創下十一年以來最高紀錄，主要由於私人房屋租金、燃氣費、食米及巴士費升幅。上月食米升幅較去年同期高達六成四。
21/7/08	Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung revealed that the waiving of the foreign domestic helper levy is likely to start from August 1. The original September start date has left some maids in limbo, because employers are not willing to renew their contracts now. 勞工及福利局局長張建宗透露，政府很有可能提早至8月1日停徵「外傭稅」。原訂九月一日方正式生效，這令一些外傭處於不知所措的境地，因為僱主不願意在現時為外傭續約。
20/7/08	The Consumer Council says it will take on more staff to expand its price monitoring system. The Council's Chairman, Anthony Cheung, said those taken on could include part-time staff and volunteers. He said once the price monitoring system is expanded, the council will start naming the shops surveyed in a bid to increase transparency. 消委會主席張炳良表示，消委會將會雇用更多職員擴大格價工作，消委會可以找兼職和志願者幫忙。他表示，格價制度擴大後，消委會將公開受調查的零售點名稱，以增加價格透明度。
19/7/08	The Dental Council has revised its professional code to allow dentists to advertise in newspapers and magazines. Information will have to be accurate, factual and verifiable. 牙醫管理委員會修訂專業守則，容許牙醫在報章及雜誌登廣告。資料必項正確、真實的和可核實的。
18/7/08	Hong Kong ranked fifth out of 50 countries in terms of the number of hours worked in a week. A study found that 40.9 percent of employees here work more than 48 hours a week. Long hours are most common in the catering, retail, security and cleaning sectors. 香港人工時之長，在五十個國家中排名第五。有調查發現，香港有約四成一雇員，每周工作四十八小時或以上，當中以飲食、零售、保安及清潔等行業工時普遍長。
17/7/08	The chief executive, Donald Tsang, announced an $11-billion package to help people cope with rising inflation. Half of the ten-point measures such as a student subsidy, domestic helper tax waiver and food subsidies are new. The rest are extensions of those introduced in the March budget, such as subsidized electricity bills, additional payments to recipients of social security and old age allowance. 行政長官曾蔭權宣布用110億元，推出措施紓緩市民的通脹壓力。10項措施中，一半是新，包括學生資助、暫停徵外傭費及食物津貼，其餘是三月財政預算措施延長部分，如電費補貼和額外的綜援和長者津貼。
16/7/08	Thousands of people queued up outside several branches of the Bank of China to buy special $20 banknotes commemorating the Beijing Olympics. People started queuing on Monday morning - and stayed overnight despite torrential rain. The notes are on sale today. 數以千計的市民在數間中銀分行外排隊輪購面值二十元奧運紀念鈔，市民星期一早上開始排隊，冒著暴雨整夜排隊輪候，奧運紀念鈔票在今日發售。
15/7/08	Beijing announced Olympic spectators house rules yesterday. Streaking is definitely out at the Games next month. So is getting drunk, opening umbrellas in the stands or mobbing the referee. The authorities stressed that they are carefully considered regulations adopted at all Olympics but with Chinese characteristics. 北京昨日公布奧運觀賽規則，裸跑、醉酒、座上撐傘及圍攻裁判員都會被嚴禁。當局強調，規則是根據前奧運經驗，再參照中國國情制定的。
14/7/08	Children under five years old who often squint may be at risk of eye cancer, a specialist has warned. Parents should pay attention when their children squint or have pupils that appear to be white. Although eye cancer is curable, delayed surgery can cause sight loss. 有專家警告，五歲以下兒童經常斜視，可能有罹患眼癌的危險。若子女有斜視或瞳孔處出現白色光瓣，家長應該注意。雖然眼癌是可醫治的，不及早動手術會引至失明。
13/7/08	Rita Lau has been appointed as Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to fill the vacancy left by Frederick Ma. Rita Lau says the future of public broadcasting will be one of her priorities and a new director of broadcasting for RTHK will be announced soon. 劉吳惠蘭被委任商務及經濟發展局長，接替馬時亨的空缺。劉吳惠蘭說，上任後優先考慮的事是港台的前途，會盡快公布廣播處長人選。
12/7/08	Fifteen-hundred preselected customers queued at a Tsim Sha Tsui shopping mall to pick up the new Apple iPhone, which went on sale in 22 markets worldwide. Most of them said they felt lucky and excited. 蘋果生產的 iPhone3G 流動電話今天在全球二十二個市場發行，一千五百名被預選客戶在尖沙咀一個商場排隊購買 iPhone 3G ，大部分的客戶感覺幸運和興奮。
11/7/08	Hong Kong passed its first anti-racism law yesterday making racial discrimination an offence. However, the language clause under the Race Discrimination Bill requires all public and private organizations to provide translation services to ethnic minorities. Some people fear that the new law will create unnecessary lawsuits. 香港昨日首次通過《種族歧視條例》，種族歧視成為刑事罪。然而，《種族歧視條例》內的語言條文要求政府及私人機構為少數族裔提供語言方便。有些人擔心新法例會產生不必要訴訟。
10/7/08	At the end of Group of Eight summit in Japan, the G8 nations supported a shared vision of action to reduce greenhouse gases. But developing nations, including China, refused to endorse a call by G-Eight leaders to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least fifty percent by 2050. 在日本召開的八國集團峰會結束，八國領袖達成共識，減少溫室氣體排放。但發展中國家，包括中國，不同意在2050年廢氣排放減半的要求。
9/7/08	Zhang Chunhui, goalkeeper of South China football club, was jailed for eight months for inflicting grievous bodily harm on a teenager. The magistrate described the attack as cruel and gruesome and the incidence would have an adverse effect on his career. 南華守門員張春暉，嚴重傷害一名少年身體罪，被判入獄 8個月。裁判官形容張的襲擊兇殘，令人毛骨悚然，事件會影響其一生及事業。
8/7/08	More primary students have been allocated the secondary school of their choice this year compared with last year. About 73 percent of students - up from 68 percent last year - got their first choice. But a primary school headmaster said the higher figure is due to a drop in the number of students and the problem of students' competing for school places still exists. 今年較去年有更多小六生獲派心儀中學，獲派首志願的學生達七成三，高於去年的六成八。但有小學校長表示，今年派位率高是因為升中生人數下跌，而學位競爭問題仍然存在。
7/7/08	Vice-President Xi Jinping arrived yesterday for his three-day visit to Hong Kong, laying out his expectations for the Olympic Paralympic equestrian events in the city. He said: "The opportunity to co-host the Beijing Olympics is not only an honor for Hong Kong, it is also a responsibility." 國家副主席習近平昨日抵港，展開一連三天的訪港行程，習近平清楚地提出他對香港籌辦奧運馬術比賽的期望。他說，「香港協辦北京奧運不僅是光榮的事，而且是一個責任。」
6/7/08	The Chief Secretary, Henry Tang, said that the SAR government will ensure that every cent of aid given to Sichuan for quake relief will provide the maximum benefit for the devastated region. He said assistance provided by Hong Kong to Sichuan could help the in the construction of schools, hospitals and homes for the elderly there. 政務司長唐英年表示，政府確保撥出款項支援四川賑災，每分每毫都會發揮最大功效。他表示，本港可以協助四川興建學校、醫院和安老院等。
5/7/08	The Director General of Invest Hong Kong, Mike Rowse, won a legal challenge against the government - for fining him 156-thousand dollars and issuing a warning to him over his role in the 2003 Harbourfest concerts. The High Court said the disciplinary committee had not dealt with the matter properly. 投資推廣署署長盧維思被政府裁定在 2003年「維港巨星匯」中失職，罰款十五萬六千多元，盧維思上訴高等法院獲勝訴。高等法院指紀律聆訊小組處理事件不妥當。
4/7/08	The first direct charter flights between the Mainland and Taiwan are due to begin today - enabling potentially millions of Mainland tourists to visit the island. There have been no regular direct flights, aside from a few charters on select holidays, since 1949. 兩岸首度直航包機在今天正式啟航，使數以百萬計大陸遊客能到台灣觀光。兩岸自四九年以來，除很少數的假日包機外，沒有定期的直航班機。
3/7/08	The Legislative Council yesterday passed a bill to introduce a HK$1,500 spot-fine for smokers who light up in no-smoking areas. But the Health Secretary, York Chow, said there is no timetable for introducing the fixed penalty, as a lot of publicity and administrative work remains to be done. 立法會昨日通過吸煙定額罰款修訂條例，規定違例吸煙者要繳交一千五百元罰款。但食物及衛生局局長周一嶽表示，現未能定出定額罰款生效日期，因為有很多宣傳和行政工作要做。
2/7/08	A man suffering from multidrug-resistant active tuberculosis was able to travel by train from Guangdong to Hong Kong without notifying health authorities. It was the second TB scare in a week. Last week a NET teacher who left Hong Kong for English died of tuberculosis. 一名患有抗藥性肺癆病的男子由內地乘坐火車來港，並未有通報衛生當局。這是一週內第二次肺癆病恐慌。上星期一名離港返英外籍教師，死於肺癆病。
1/7/08	Following Sunday's horrific traffic accident on Garden Road , the Government will install speed cameras at 29 of Hong Kong 's steepest roads, along with other safety measures such as more road signs. A 13 year old girl was killed and more than 30 injured in the crash. 星期日花園道可怕的交通意外發生後，政府會在全港二十九個最斜路段，安裝偵查車速攝錄機，並加設路牌指示。一名十三歲女童在車禍中死亡，三十多人受傷。
30/6/08	A special police task force has been set up to investigate the growing phenomenon of "compensated dating". The move follows the brutal killing in April of 16-year-old Wong Ka-mui. She took part in compensated dating, in which - through the internet - girls offer to shop, eat out or go to a movie with men in return for payment. 十六歲女生王嘉梅疑「援交」遭殘殺後，警方成立一個特別小組調查熾熱的「援交」風氣。「援交」少女在網上表示願意陪伴『朋友』逛街、吃飯和看電影等，以收取報酬。
29/6/08	A two-year Territory-wide Campaign Against Youth Drug Abuse was launched yesterday with a new slogan "Not Now Not Ever". The Secretary for Justice, Wong Yan-lung, said the problem of youth drug abuse had become more serious in recent years and he hoped that the Campaign would correct common misunderstanding and misconception about drugs. 一個為期兩年的「不可一　不可再」全港青少年禁毒運動已於昨日開始進行。律政司司長黃仁龍表示，青少年毒品問題近年有加劇趨勢，他希望透過這次運動，糾正公眾對毒品的誤解和錯誤態度。
28/6/08	Dozens of chicken farmers and traders hurled eggs outside Government House and the Legislative Council building yesterday to protest against government's measure to ban live chickens being kept overnight at wet markets. 幾十名雞農及雞販昨日在禮賓府及立法會外擲雞蛋，抗議政府禁止在街市留活雞過夜措施。
27/6/08	Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen made an unprecedented appearance at the Legislative Council to defend the political appointments. He called on lawmakers to put an end to the controversy. But pan-democrats said his appearance was merely a publicity show designed to save his falling popularity. 特首曾蔭權破天荒地出席立法會為政治任命辯護，他呼籲立法會議員停止爭論。但泛民派認為這只是一場宣傳表演，以圖挽回特首低落的民望。
26/6/08	Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma Si-hang yesterday denied his resignation had anything to do with political infighting at the top levels of the administration, saying he took the step purely on health considerations. He stressed that his decision to step down was not a rash one. 商務及經濟發展局局長馬時亨，昨日否認他請辭可能與高層官員內鬨有關，他表示請辭是純粹地基於健康理由。他強調這個決定不是一個鹵莽的決定。
25/6/08	The secretary for commerce and economic development Frederick Ma Si-hang has been forced to resign after being diagnosed with what is thought to be a brain tumor. The chief executive, Donald Tsang, said he would forward his resignation to the central government for consideration. He wished Mr Ma a speedy recovery. 商務及經濟發展局局長馬時亨被診斷出腦部有腫瘤，被迫呈辭。行政長官曾蔭權表示，將其辭職請求，報請中央人民政府考慮，並祝願他早日康復。
24/6/08	Two children who tried to climb down from the 34th floor of a building on Saturday are to be placed temporarily in care, pending the preparation of a report by a social welfare officer next month. The court was told that if they were allowed to return home, their safety would be at risk as they might climb out of the window again. 上星期六試圖由三十四樓爬水渠落街一對小姊弟暫時交由保良局照顧，等候福利主任報告。警方向法庭表示，若小姊弟獲淮回家，會有危險，他們或會再次爬出窗口。
23/6/08	Sixty-three percent of youngsters have had sex and 34 percent of girls had been pregnant more than once, according to a survey by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. The council blamed the mass media and the internet for promoting nudity and sex. 社會服務聯會調查發現，63%受訪者有性經驗，34%受訪少女曾多次懷孕。社聯指責大眾傳播媒體及互聯網宣揚裸露及色情。
22/6/08	An 8-year-old girl and her six-year-old brother climbed out of the window of their 34th floor flat in Tin Shui Wai. The children were dragged back to safety when neighbours spotted them - the girl at the 28th floor and the boy three floors further down. Their 26-year-old mother was arrested for child abuse. 天水圍一對 8 歲及 6 歲姊弟在 34 樓住所爬出窗外，爬至28樓及25樓，被街坊發現救回， 26 歲母親涉嫌虐兒被捕。
21/6/08	Government has put forward compensation proposals for the poultry traders to surrender their licences in a bid to prevent further bird flu outbreaks. But so far farmers and retailers have failed to make any progress in talks with the government. And they say they might take drastic action if the deadlock continues. 政府向活家禽業界提出收回所有牌照的賠償方案。雞農和批發商與政府的談判仍未有進展，他們表示如果談判僵持，他們或會採取激烈行動。
20/6/08	The government apologised for the embarrassment caused by the sudden closure of Tatami-Hampton. More than 100 guests were ordered to leave the hotel without notice. The hotel was seized by the Bank of East Asia over an unpaid loan of $80 million. The Tourism Board would offer a free half-day tour of Hong Kong to those affected. 政府就漢普頓酒店突然被查封事件，對旅客造成不便致歉。一百多名旅客未有通知下被下令離開。酒店因未償還八千萬債務被東亞銀行查封。旅發局會免費安排受影響旅客半日免費香港遊。
19/6/08	The Hospital Authority has launched a public-private collaboration programme in the provision of primary healthcare services for a specified group of patients in Tin Shui Wa. Under the three-year programme, patients with chronic illnesses from the district will pay the same as they would if they used public outpatient clinics. The Authority will subsidise the rest. 醫管局在天水圍推行公私營醫療合作計劃，為特定組別病人向私家醫生購買基層醫療服務。根據這個三年計劃，天水圍長期病患者在區內的私家醫生求診時，只需支付公營普通科門診費，其餘費用由醫管局補貼。
18/6/08	Three senior property agents from the Centaline company were jailed for up to three years and four months, for securing deals by paying illegal kickbacks. The judge criticized Centaline for having a loose and ineffective monitoring system. 中原地產三名高級職員涉支付非法回佣以求達成交易，判囚最高40個月。法官批評中原地產的監察未夠嚴謹及無效能的。
17/6/08	The Director of Immigration, Simon Peh, has warned that terrorists may target Hong Kong during the Olympic Games, in the hope of disrupting the equestrian events to be hosted here. However, the Police later said there was no specific intelligence to indicate that Hong Kong is the target for such an attack, adding that the threat level remains 'moderate'. 入境處處長白韞六表示，會有恐怖分子在奧運期間，破壞本港協辦的奧運馬術比賽。但警方稍後表示，目前沒有情報顯示，馬術比賽可能成為襲擊的目標，恐怖威脅程度仍是中級。
16/6/08	The government is being urged to introduce paternity leave. Members of the Federation of Trade Unions marched from Chater Garden to Government Headquarters to voice this demand. Legislator, Wong Kwok-hing, says the move could boost the morale of fathers-to-be. Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association is also asking for a three-day paternity leave to bolster low staff morale. 多個團體要求政府立法設立男士「侍產假」。工聯會成員發起遊行，由中環遮打花園遊行至政府總部，促請政府盡快增設男士有薪侍產假。立法會議員王國興認為，有薪侍產假有助提升準爸爸士氣。香港公共醫療醫生協會亦希望爭取三日的侍產假，以鼓勵低落的員工士氣。
15/6/08	The chairman of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, Michael Tien, says letting schools decide which language to use in different classes is a good idea, but that it would be difficult to implement. Mr Tien also insisted the plan was not a departure from the mother tongue teaching policy. 語常會主席田北辰認為，讓學校決定分班轉用英語授課是個好主意，但實施有困難。他堅稱微調母語教學計劃並沒有背離母語教學政策。
14/6/08	13 sites across the territory have been identified as being at risk following the heavy rainstorm last weekend. The Government ordered the closure of a building near the University of Hong Kong , and recommended the temporary closure of a park in Tsing Yi, due to the threat of possible landslides. 上周暴雨後，全港有 13 個地點出現山泥傾瀉風險。由於受山泥傾瀉威脅，政府命令封閉香港大學附近一座建築物及建議暫時關閉青衣一個公園。
13/6/08	The Police Commercial Crime Bureau arrested five men and two women suspected of conspiring to defraud the shareholders of two listed companies in Hong Kong and 18 banks in Hong Kong and overseas for a total of $3.55 billion. 警方商業罪案調查科拘捕五名男子及兩名女子，他們涉嫌串謀訛騙本港兩間上市公司的股東及十八間本港及海外的銀行，涉案金額總值三十五億五千萬元。
12/6/08	The government has announced the culling of all poultry in markets throughout the territory, following the discovery of the H5N1 bird flu virus in three more markets. Tests on chicken faeces taken from Tuen Mun, Fanling and Ap Lei Chau markets showed positive results for the virus. Poultry in local farms won't be affected. 再多三個街市 ─ 屯門、粉嶺及鴨月利洲 ─ 的雞糞樣本驗出H5N1禽流感病毒，政府宣佈，屠宰全港街市活雞，本地農場雞隻不受影響。
11/6/08	Donald Tsang yesterday apologised for failing to present the 17 new political appointees to the media shortly after their appointment. Tsang rejected criticism that he had been politically stupid in allowing rows to develop over the foreign nationality rights and pay of the new political appointees. 曾蔭權為未能盡快安排十七位新政治任命官員召見傳媒表示歉意。曾蔭權否認他是政治愚蠢的批評，令新政治任命官員的國籍及薪酬問題引發社會持續爭議。
10/6/08	Tai O residents were angry about the slow response and poor co-ordination of the relief work after Saturday's torrential downpours. Residents said the emergency in the wake of Saturday's deluge exposed the lack of an evacuation plan, stable food supply and temporary shelter. 大澳居民不滿意政府在星期六暴雨後的緩慢反應及救災工作協調差。居民表示，星期六暴雨緊急情況後暴露政府缺乏疏散計劃、糧食供應及臨時庇護所。
9/6/08	The government says it will take over a week before land transport to Tai O on Lantau island returns to normal. Severe rainfall on Saturday has caused landslips that have damaged roads, leaving the ferry to be the only transport link. Ferry services between Tai O and Tung Chung will be enhanced until land transport fully recovers. 政府表示，大澳的陸路交通中斷將維持一星期多。星期六的大雨導致嚴重山泥傾瀉，馬路損毀，渡輪成為維一的交通聯繫。東涌至大澳渡輪服務將會加強，直至陸路交通恢復正常。
8/6/08	The government ordered an immediate ban on all poultry imports from the mainland, after the H5N1 virus was found in samples collected from poultry stalls at the Po On Road market. All 2,700 birds in the market were culled. The Health Secretary, York Chow, said that culling would be extended, if the bird flu virus was found in other locations. 保安道街市有雞隻糞便樣本驗出 H5N1禽流感病毒，政府即時停止由內地進口家禽，市場內2700隻家禽被銷毀。食物及衛生局長周一嶽說，如果再發現其他禽流感個案，就會銷毀更多家禽。
7/6/08	The distinction between secondary schools that teach in English and those that use Chinese would vanish as early as next September, says Education Secretary Michael Suen. If at least 85-percent of students in a class are deemed to be competent in English -- it will be an English-medium class. But even in Chinese-language classes, a quarter of the lessons will be conducted in English. 教育局長孫明揚表示，最快明年九月，中學不再區分中文中學和英文中學。學校每班有八成半具備英語學習能力的學生便可開辦英文班，中文班兩成半的課時採用英語教學。
6/6/08	The Transport Advisory Committee has proposed a radical revamp of the way taxi fares are set - by cutting fares for long-haul journeys but increasing them for short ones. The committee blamed the existing structure for problems caused by discount gangs. Offering discounts for long-haul rides has become a trend in the industry. 交諮會公布一項徹底改變的士收費模式提議 : 短途加價、長途減價。交諮會把現行架構問題歸咎於「折扣黨」。業界傾向給予長途客折扣。
5/6/08	Legislator Cheung Man-kwong called the process of appointing undersecretaries and political assistants a 'black-box operation' which had greatly undermined the credibility of Donald Tsang's administration. But the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Stephen Lam, said the government had considered more than 100 candidates before the political appointments. 立法會議員張文光批評政府委任副局長及政治助理，過程黑箱作業，損害曾蔭權政府的公信力。但政制及內地事務局局長林瑞麟說，政府挑選政治任命班子時，考慮過的人數遠超於100人。
4/6/08	The Executive Council has approved a pay rise for civil servants. Senior officials will receive a rise of 6.3 percent, while junior and middle-ranking officers will get 5.29 percent. Employers Federation of Hong Kong criticized the offer, saying that the government pay rise will put pressure on the private sector. 行政會議批准公務員加薪，高級公務員加薪6.3%，中低級公務員加薪5.29%。香港僱主聯合會批評加薪提議，認為公務員加薪增加私營部門的壓力。
3/6/08	Two former senior government officials yesterday criticized the government's handling of the new political appointees. Former secretary for the civil service Joseph Wong Wing-ping said the government should not keep the nationality and salaries of the appointees secret since the public has the right to know. 兩名前政府高官昨日批評政府處理政治委任官員不當。前公務員事務局局長王永平表示，政府應公開委任官員的薪酬及國籍，公眾有權知道。
2/6/08	The Democratic Party is calling on the government to take steps to ensure that anyone appointed as an undersecretary holds Chinese nationality. The party's chairman, Albert Ho, said, "Allowing those with dual nationalities to be undersecretaries shows the government lacks political sense and wisdom." 民主黨要求政府採取措施，規定副局長由中國公民出任。民主黨主席何俊仁認為，容許副局級官員擁有雙重國籍，顯示政府缺乏政治常識及智慧。
1/6/08	The chief executive has rejected calls to make public the income of each new political appointee, saying it will start unnecessary comparisons. Donald Tsang also said the pay scale for Under Secretaries and Political Assistants the job is already public. The actual salaries of individual appointees are personal data and cannot be randomly disclosed. 行政長官曾蔭權拒絕公開每位政治任命官員的薪酬，他表示這會做成不必要的比較。副局長以及政治助理的薪酬水平已公開，但每個員工的具體薪酬，是個人資料，不能隨便公開。
31/5/08	Thousands of people queued outside the Peak Tram in Central yesterday - despite the wet weather. To mark its 120th anniversary, the tram company offered two-way fares at just 30 cents - the price that was charged when it opened in 1888. 儘管下雨的天氣，大批市民昨日在中環輪候山頂纜車。山頂纜車慶祝通車120周年，昨日以開業時票價3角優惠市民乘搭。
30/5/08	Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung said he has given up his Canadian passport while Undersecretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen has surrendered his BN(O) travel document. Three others said they will make a decision before assuming office. The case of undersecretaries having dual citizenship had raised questions about their loyalties. 商務及經濟發展局副局長蘇錦樑及政制及內地事務局副局長譚志源表明放棄加拿大護照及居英權。另三位持有外國護照的副局長表示，會在上任之前決定。副局長擁有雙重國籍問題，令人懷疑他們對政府的效忠。
29/5/08	Hong Kong's overall vacancy rate in the first quarter hit a record high as a result of the territory's continuing economic growth. The overall vacancy rate was 4.6 per cent, up 1.5 percentage points from the same period in 2007. Telecommunications, engineering and retail sectors had the highest vacancy rates. 由於經濟暢旺，香港第一季職位空缺率創下新高，今年首季職位空缺率為百分之四點六，較去年同期上升一點五個百分點，當中以電訊業、工程業及零售業空缺率最高。
28/5/08	The government and the Travel Industry Council condemned an incident where Japanese customs slipped cannabis into a Hong Kong passenger's luggage as part of a sniffer dog test. When the dog failed the test, the passenger walked away with 142 grams of cannabis. Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong said the case was a total breach of customs guidelines. 政府及旅遊業議會譴責日本海關，進行緝毒犬訓練時，將大麻塞入一名香港旅客的行李中。測試失敗，旅客將一百二十克大麻帶離機場。保安局長李少光表示，日本做法是違反所有海關守則。
27/5/08	The Commercial Crime Bureau is looking into reports of the leakage of undercover police operations files on the internet. Media reports say highly confidential materials, including details of an undercover operation were put on the internet through a file-sharing programme. 商業罪案調查科正調查，網上洩漏警隊臥底行動檔案。有傳媒報道，高度機密資料，包括一宗臥底行動，透過分享軟件，上載互聯網。
26/5/08	Several hundred people protested against mandatory medical insurance under the government's health care reform proposals. They said such a scheme would only increase the burden on middle and low income earners. A single person making HK$12,000 a month may have to pay HK$7,200 in mandatory medical contributions a year. 數百人抗議政府實施強制性醫療及保險供款方案。他們表示，方案只令中產及低收入市民增加負擔。月入一萬二千元的單身市民，需要年供七千二百元醫療供款。
25/5/08	The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Lam Chiu-ying, has reiterated that the city is safe from major earthquakes. He says Hong Kong is a long way from the nearest earthquake belt, that runs from the Philippines to Taiwan, and major structures are built to high standards. 天文台台長林超英重申香港不會有大地震，香港遠離由菲律賓伸延至台灣主要地震帶，而建築物有高防震水平。
24/5/06	Police arrested a man in connection with the murder of a missing airline ground crew member during a robbery and days later demanding a HK$100,000 ransom for her. The woman's body was dumped in a sewage tunnel in Taipo. 一名失蹤的航空公司女地勤服務員被劫殺，數日後被要求贖金，警方拘捕一名與案有關的男子。女子屍體被棄置於大埔一條引水道內。
23/5/08	Hong Kong's inflation rate last month rose to 5.4 percent, the highest in a decade. The increase was largely due to the rise in the price of food and fuel. High food prices, a weak Hong Kong dollar and yuan appreciation will force inflation to rise further. 本港上月通脹率上升5.4%，創近十年新高。高通脹主要受食品及燃料費用上升推動。食品價格高企、港元疲弱及人民幣升值，勢必帶動本港通脹繼續攀升。
22/5/08	A low-profile philanthropist has pledged to donate HK$1.3 billion he expects to raise from the sale of five sites in Kowloon Tong to charity. HK$30 million will go to relief work for the Sichuan earthquake victims and construction of schools. 一名低調慈善家承諾出售五幅九龍塘豪宅地後，將賣地所得的收益十三億元全數撥作慈善用途，其中三千萬元作四川賑災，及為四川災區重建學校。
21/5/08	The Executive Council has given the green light for bus companies to increase their fares by 2.4 percent to 7.24 percent from early June. Passengers and bus companies have both expressed disappointment. Most operators asked for higher rises - on the back of rising operating and fuel costs. 行政會議通過巴士公司下月初加價，加幅由百分之二點四至百分之七點二四不等。乘客和巴士公司都表示失望，大部分的巴士公司要求更高加幅－由於經營成本和燃料價格上升。
20/5/08	Millions on the mainland and in Hong Kong observed the nationwide three-minutes of silence yesterday afternoon for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. It was a tribute of respect for the victims and compassion for the survivors. The tragedy touched the hearts of millions of people across the nation. 全國昨日下午為四川地震死難者默哀3分鐘，這是對死難者尊崇，對倖存者憐憫。地震災難感動全國人心靈。
19/5/08	China has announced three days of national mourning for an estimated 50,000 people who died in Monday's earthquake in Sichuan, measuring a revised magnitude 8. Hong Kong will lower flags at half-staff from today. All civil servants in Hong Kong will observe the three minutes silence at 2.28pm. 中國宣布，一連3日定為全國哀悼日，為四川8級(修訂)大地震估計五萬遇難者誌哀。本港今天起一連3日下半旗致哀，所有公務員下午2時28分默哀3分鐘。
18/5/08	A number of brand name shops in Central have come under fire for keeping their lights on overnight. The environmental group, Friends of the Earth, said it was a waste of energy to keep the lights on after midnight . It called on companies to show corporate social responsibility. 中環名牌商店燈光徹夜不熄滅，受到猛烈批評。環保組織地球之友表示，半夜後仍然亮著燈光，虛耗能源。地球之友要求商號要有企業責任。
17/5/08	The government says that of the 97 Hong Kong residents who reportedly lost contact with their families as a result of the earthquake in Sichuan, 88 have already been in touch with family members but nine are still unaccounted for. 政府表示，97 名港人在四川地震發生後與家人失去聯絡，至今已有 88 名與家人聯絡，但仍有 9 名港人未取得聯絡。
16/5/08	TVB Chairman Sir Run Run Shaw yesterday donated HK$100 million for rebuilding schools in the earthquake-devastated Sichuan province. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild will set up a relief committee to look after the livelihood and schooling of children orphaned by the quake. 無線主席邵逸夫爵士昨日捐款1億元，資助四川災區重建校舍。同時，香港演藝人協會成立賑災小組，照顧災區孤兒的生活及學校教育。
15/5/08	The Consumer Council found in tests that doughnuts were loaded with high levels of trans-fats that could cause obesity and even lead to serious health problems such as heart disease. Chinese "wife cake" from Wing Wah and Garden's vanilla-flavoured cream wafers were found to contain high levels of the fats. 消費者委員會測試，發現冬甩含高反式脂肪，曾導致肥胖及健康問題，如心血管病。榮華老婆餅及嘉頓忌廉威化餅亦含較高反式脂肪。
14/5/08	The government has announced a cash donation of HK$350 million to help victims of the earthquake on the mainland and a team of rescue specialists will be sent to the devastated area. As the mainland and Hong Kong are as flesh and blood, Hong Kong people have rolled into action to help victims, with donations running into the tens of millions of dollars within hours. 港府宣布撥款三億五千萬元協助內地地震災民，一支搜救隊將赴災區。由於內地和香港血濃於水，港人掀起賑災行動，數小時內捐款數千萬元。
13/5/08	At least 9,000 people were confirmed killed after an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale rocked Sichuan. The tremor was felt in 16 provinces and as far away as Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. Many Hongkongers were forced to flee their homes as the tremor hit the city. 四川昨日發生黎克特制7.8級地震，至少9000人被証實死亡。中國十六個省感到震動，震動遠至越南、泰國及台灣。香港亦受地震影響，不少港人被迫逃離家。
12/5/08	A survey conducted by the Society for Community Organisation has found that low-income families in Hong Kong are now struggling to make ends meet, with inflation causing food prices to sky rocket. A spokeswoman for the group said neither family income nor government welfare payments were keeping pace with inflation. 社區組織協會一項調查發現，通脹造成食品價格高漲，令香港低收入家庭難以維持生計。協會發言人表示，家庭收入和政府福利金都不能追上通脹。
11/5/08	More than half those questioned in a survey admitted spending several hours online almost every day, when they could be devoting time to their families. Many had admitted going on line to seek new friends or partners because they had become bored with family life. 有調查發現，逾半受訪者承認，幾乎將每日與家人相處的時間用於上網數小時。很多受訪者承認在網上找新朋友或伴侶，因為家庭生活令他們厭煩。
10/5/08	Tour operator, Wing On Travel, lost its appeal against an earlier court ruling that "tips" should be included in the salary of tour guides for the purpose of claiming overtime compensation. Tips make up about ninety percent of a guide's total earnings. However, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong is worried that the ruling will increase costs for tour companies. 上訴庭駁回永安旅遊的上訴，裁定領隊的小費屬於薪金一部份，假期補償金要將小費納入計算。小費佔領隊收入達九成。旅遊業議會擔心，判決令旅行社營運成本增加。
9/5/08	A 16-year-old girl, who was described as bright, helpful and outstanding by her teachers, quit school and worked as a call girl in order to relieve the financial burden on her family. Police charged a transportation worker with the murder of the girl, whose body was reportedly dismembered and her parts flushed down the toilet and others dumped at sea. 一名被老師形容為聰穎、樂於助人和傑出的16 歲少女，輟學及當援交少女，以減輕家庭財政負擔。警方控告一名搬運工人謀殺少女罪，少女被肢解，部分人體由馬桶沖走及拋棄於大海。
8/5/08	A celebrity tutor was accused of sending students text messages explaining the content of the HKCEE English-language examination after it had finished, claiming it would help candidates gain a deeper understanding of the writing paper. Some students claimed the tutor had unlawfully obtained the papers and used them for commercial gain. 一名補習社名師被指控於試後向學生提供會考英國語文科試題分析手機短訊，指這些資料有助考生對作文卷有更深入了解。有學生聲稱，該補習導師從不當途徑取得有關試題作商業得益。
7/5/08	The Prince Of Wales Hospital has confirmed that a USB memory stick containing personal data of more than 10,000 patients was left in a taxi by a laboratory analyst. The Hospital Authority has implemented new measures to enhance patient data security. It bans staff of public hospitals from downloading patients’ information into USB memory sticks. 沙田威爾斯醫院証實，一名化驗分析員在的士遺失載有一萬名病人資料的USB記憶體。醫院管理局已實施新措施，加強病人資料安全，醫管局員工不得下載病人資料於USB記憶體。
6/5/08	The Inland Revenue Department collected a record $200-billion in taxes in the last financial year. The increase was largely brought about by the prospering economy, with a significant growth in business profits and a general increase in salaries, plus a surge in turnover in both the stock and property markets. 稅務局去年稅收達2000億元，創歷史新高。稅收增加主要是因為經濟持續向好、公司盈利持續增長、薪金普遍增加、再加上股市及物業收益增加。
5/5/08	Democratic Party vice chairman Sin Chung-Kai has decided not to run for a Legco seat on Hong Kong Island, saying there is a need for a fresh candidate. A political analyst said Sin's decision was designed to save the party from splitting up following strong protests from within the Island branch after Sin's name was put at the top of the list for the district. 民主黨副主席單仲偕宣布，不會在港島區出選立法會選舉，他表示有需要給新人參選。有政治分析員表示，單仲偕的退選決定是為了避免黨內分裂。單仲偕早前被提名排頭位出戰港島區立法會選舉，該黨港島區支部強烈反對。
4/5/08	Police arrested a 40 year old man suspected of killing his wife in Tsuen Wan last month. Police said the case was thought to be one of domestic violence stemming from affairs of the heart. The 41 year old victim was found dead in an ally. A hammer was found at the scene. 警方拘捕一名 40歲男子，涉嫌上月在荃灣謀殺妻子。警方表示，今次是一宗家庭暴力案件，源於感情糾紛。41歲女死者被發現在後巷死亡，在案發現場一把鐵鎚。
3/5/08	The so-called Prince of Paak Fa Yeow Stephen Gan was ordered to perform 180 hours of community service, after he was convicted of molesting two male taxi drivers. The magistrate said he had decided to give Mr Gan a chance to turn over a new leaf. 有白花油王子之稱顏福偉非禮兩名男的士司機，被判 180小時社會服務令。裁判官表示，他決定給予顏福偉機會改過自身新。
2/5/08	Eighteen people were killed and forty-four were injured when a coach crashed into a noise barrier at a roundabout in Sai Kung. The coach was carrying 61 passengers from Tsz Wan Shan to Sai Kung for their monthly religious activities. The driver of the tour bus was arrested for dangerous driving. 一輛旅遊巴在西貢一個迴旋處猛撼路邊隔音屏，18人死亡，44人受傷。旅遊巴當時載著61名乘客，由慈雲山前往西貢，參加每月一次的宗教活動。旅遊巴司機涉嫌危險駕駛被捕。
1/5/08	The Olympic flame arrived in its first stop on Chinese soil, Hong Kong , for the Torch Relay in the territory to be conducted on May 2. This is the second time for the Olympic flame to be relayed in Hong Kong since the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964. 奧運聖火運抵香港，準備於五月二日展開在中國國土第一站的接力傳遞。聖火是自一九六四年東京奧運後再次來到香港。
30/4/08	The final list of 120 Olympic torchbearers was officially announced yesterday. Torchbearers come from different sectors, including athletes, politicians, businessmen, academics and entertainment figures. Our school's PE teacher, Ms. Ho Shuk-ting is honoured to be one of the torchbearers. 奧運聖火一百二十名火炬手名單，昨日正式宣佈。火炬手來自不同界別，包括運動員、政界人士、商人、學者及演藝人士等。本校體育科老師何淑婷榮幸為火炬手之一。
29/4/08	Wan Chai district councilor and member of the League of Social Democrats, Michael Mak, was denied entry to Macau yesterday ahead of the Olympic torch relay in the two cities this week. Mr Mak said the Macau authorities cited internal security laws for their refusal to allow him to enter. 奧運聖火本週在港澳傳遞前，社民連灣仔區議員麥國風，昨日到澳門被拒入境。麥國風表示，澳門當局根據內部保安條例拒絕他入境。
28/4/08	A survey conducted by Environmental group Greeners Action found that 37% of the schools polled did not provide pupils with reusable lunchboxes. The schools worried that the boxes provided by meal suppliers were not clean. Greeners Action urges primary schools to use eco-friendly lunchboxes to ease pressure on landfills. 環保團體綠領行動一項調查發現，37%受訪小學沒有提供學生可再用的飯盒，他們擔心飯盒供應商所提供的飯盒不清潔。綠領行動促請小學採用可清洗飯盒，以減輕垃圾堆填的壓力。
27/4/08	The Secretary for Security, Ambrose Lee, has made it clear the government will reject entry to anyone who wants to visit Hong Kong to support Tibetan independence. He says he expects tens of thousands of people to witness the torch's progress including supporters and demonstrators. 保安局局長李少光清楚地說明，政府會拒絕鼓吹藏獨人士入境。他預料有數以十萬計的市民見證奧運火炬傳遞，包括支持者及示威者。
26/4/08	A doctor at the Tuen Mun Child Assessment Centre found a USB memory card missing on April 18. The card contained information on 700 patients. The Deputy Director of Health, Gloria Tam, apologised to the affected children and parents, and said the Department of Health has enhanced office security. 屯門兒童體能智力測驗中心一名醫生，4月18日發現遺失USB記憶卡，記憶卡載有700 名病人資料。衛生署副署長譚麗芬對受影響的學童及其家屬致歉，並表示衛生署已加強項保安措施。
25/4/08	The founder of the Tse Sui Luen jewelry chain and his son were remanded in custody after they were convicted of bribery, falsifying accounts and tax evasion yesterday. Tse Sui-luen conspired with others to offer kickbacks to local and foreign travel agencies to bring tour groups to shop at the company's showrooms. 珠寶店創辦人謝瑞麟及其子，昨日被裁定行賄、偽造及逃稅罪名成立，還押監房看管。謝瑞麟串謀向安排旅行團光顧陳列室的本地及外地旅行社職員提供非法回佣。
24/4/08	Reductions in the size of classes in secondary schools will begin next year. The size of Form One classes will be reduced from 38 to 36 next year and to 34 in 2010. Secondary schools are facing a 25 per cent drop in enrolments over the next six years as a result of declines in the birth rate. 由明年開始，中學將縮班。中一每班人數將由38人減至36人，至 2010年將減至34人。由於出生率下降，未來六年，中學收生人數將下跌四分一。
23/4/08	The Executive Council has endorsed a plan to build the Hong Kong section of an express rail link between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The entire trip is expected to take only 48 minutes - around half the time of the current train journey. Operations are due to commence in 2014. 行政會議通過興建廣深港高速鐵路香港段，通車後由香港直達廣州只需約48分鐘，是現時的一半。預期2014年建成。
22/4/08	A man who bashed a pregnant and protected barking deer to death with a spade and a baton was jailed for six months, the heaviest sentence handed down for animal cruelty in Hong Kong. The Magistrate said the accused had shown no sympathy for the animal or remorse for the attack and a deterrent sentence was necessary. 一名男子用鐵鏟和木棍活活打死一隻受保護且懷孕的黃麖，被判入獄半年，今次是本港法庭判處干犯虐畜罪行最重的刑罰。裁判官表示，被告沒有同情黃麖，更對襲擊毫無悔意，阻嚇性判刑是必須的。
21/4/08	A survey has found that more than 90 per cent of young people witness bullying at school. Half of the polled said they had bullied their peers. Nearly 90 per cent of the bullying involved verbal threats and 22 per cent involved physical violence. A third of those who had witnessed bullying did not seek help from adults. 一項調查發現，逾九成受訪青少年在校目睹欺凌事件。五成受訪者曾欺凌同輩。近九成的欺凌屬攻擊言語類別，二成二涉及身體暴力。三分一目睹欺凌事件者不會求助成年人。
20/4/08	Hong Kong hoisted a black rainstorm warning yesterday, the earliest such alert in a calendar year since the signal system began in 1992. All storm signals were lowered at night as Neoguri had weakened into an area of low pressure. 香港昨日發出黑色暴雨警告，這是自1992年設立暴雨警告機制以來，按年錄得最早的「黑雨」。「浣熊」已減弱為一熱帶低氣壓，天文台晚上除下所有風球。
19/4/08	The Observatory issued the number three strong wind signal as typhoon Neoguri approached Hong Kong . It is the earliest this has happened since the Second World War. The weather is expected to deteriorate over the weekend. 颱風浣熊接近香港，天文台發出 3 號強風信號，是二次大戰以來本港最早發出的三號強風信號。預料週末天氣轉壞。
18/4/08	More than 90 percent of Hongkongers oppose obstruction of the Olympic torch relay and disagree with using such protests to press Beijing to improve human rights or to discuss the Tibet issues, a Chinese University survey has found. Besides, ninety-two percent agreed the Beijing Olympics is a precious occasion for the Chinese people. 中大調查發現，逾九成港人不贊同干擾火炬傳遞，亦認為不應藉此時機，就人權及西藏問題向北京施壓。另外，逾九成人認為北京舉辦奧運是中國人難得的機遇。
17/4/08	The route for the Hong Kong leg of the Olympic torch relay will be shortened to avoid traffic chaos and delays, but officials have denied the measure is being taken over security concerns. The government will carry out a trial run this Friday before finalizing details for the actual relay. 奧運聖火傳遞香港站路線將會縮短，以防交通擠塞及延誤，官員否認是因為保安理由。政府將於星期五將進行聖火傳送測試，然後最後定下傳遞的細節。
16/4/08	The Consumer Council said that some staple foods and grocery items sold at supermarket chains were found to be as much as twice as expensive as those from grocery stores. Council chief executive said the supermarkets are misleading the public with their advertisements claiming to always give the best prices. 消委會表示，超級市場一些日常必需品及雜貨售價較食品雜貨店高達兩倍。消委會總幹事表示，超級市場廣告自稱價格「最抵」是誤導的。
15/4/08	A 76-year-old man was run over and killed by a reversing truck in San Po Kong. Police arrested the truck driver for dangerous driving causing death. Public concern about truck safety has risen since the deaths of five people in four accidents involving reversing trucks since 2006 and there are fresh calls for a law requiring surveillance cameras on the rear of all goods vehicles. 一輛倒走貨車在新蒲崗輾斃一名76歲老翁，司機涉嫌危險駕駛被捕。2006年以來，有四宗倒車意外發生，導致五人死亡，公眾關注貨車安全問題，重新要求立法強制貨車安裝倒後視像裝置。
14/4/08	Many medical social workers suffer from depression, a survey has found. Medical social workers had to handle 763 cases a year. Over 60 per cent of medical social workers said they had considered quitting, 42 per cent felt depressed and anxious and 16 per cent had considered suicide. 一項調查發現，很多社工感到抑鬱。醫務社工每年經手處理達七百六十三宗個案。六成受訪醫務社工想辭職，四成二人感到抑鬱和焦慮，一成六人更想過自殺。
13/4/08	The Education Minister, Michael Suen, defended sub-degree programmes, saying they are not a failure. But Mr Suen admitted that quality control of the programes could have been tighthened. Mr Suen pledged to carry out a review of admission requirements. 教育局長孫明揚為副學士課程辯護，認為副學士課程並不是失敗。孫明揚承認，應更嚴格控制課程質量，並承諾檢討收生資格要求。
12/4/08	About 100 people were stranded on the Lantau cable car for more than an hour. A mechanical problem brought the system to a standstill at around noon . The system would be inspected overnight, and it would be reopened today. 昂坪 360纜車一度停駛1個多小時，百多名人被困。因機械系統問題，纜車在近中午時停頓。纜車系統將會通宵進行檢修，並於今日重開。
11/4/08	Secretary for Education Michael Suen yesterday announced a series of proposals intended to enhance public recognition and financial aid to strengthen the status of associate degree holders. The number of top-up degree places for associate degree graduates at publicly funded universities will be doubled. Associate degree students will be given more grants and loans. 教育局長孫明揚昨公布一系列建議，增加副學士的認受性及資助，以加強副學士的地位。資助院校銜接學位將會增加一倍，副學士生助學金及貸款亦曾增加。
10/4/08	The world's first budget long-haul airline, Oasis Hong Kong, went into liquidation yesterday, leaving 30,000 passengers stranded and 700 staff facing an uncertain future. The airline launched services to London in October 2006, and also flew to Vancouver. Reports said Oasis was struggling with debts of up to $1-billion. 世界首間長途廉價航空公司——甘泉香港航空昨日停業清盤，令3萬名乘客處於困境，七百多名員工前途未卜。甘泉香港航空2006年10月首航倫敦及溫哥華。據報甘泉負債高達10億元。
9/4/08	Police broke up a suspected credit card fraud syndicate and arrested 16 people. The syndicate applied for credit cards using false documents and forged identity cards. The syndicate used the credit cards to purchase luxury goods from the local market and then disposed of the goods in a second hand retail outlet. 警方破獲一個懷疑信用咭詐騙集團，拘捕了十六名男女。詐騙集團利用虛假文件及假身份證申請信用咭。欺詐集團利用申請得來的信用咭到商店購買奢侈品，然後將貨品在二手市場出售。
8/4/08	The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Frederick Ma, said Thailand had guaranteed rice supplies to Hong Kong. He pointed out that although mainland rice is actually about 15 percent cheaper, Thai rice has 90 percent of the local market. He hopes consumers will be wise in their choices. 商務及經濟發展局長馬時亨表示，泰國保證泰國米供港沒有問題。馬時亨指出，雖然中國米實際上平15%，泰國米佔本港九成市場。他希望消費者能作精明的抉擇。
7/4/08	Foggy weather yesterday morning disrupted air and sea traffic around Hong Kong. Two vessels collided off Po Toi Island damaging the rear of a cargo ship. Ferry services to Macau were delayed by up to two hours. 13 Hong Kong-bound flights were diverted due to heavy fog. 本港昨晨大霧，航空及海上交通受影響。蒲台島對開海面，兩艘貨船相撞，其中一艘貨船船尾損?。港澳噴射船服務亦因大霧延誤近二小時。13班來港客機受大霧影響，要轉飛至其他地方。
6/4/08	The Chief Executive of the Monetary Authority, Joseph Yam, said explicitly that owing to exceptional market fluctuations the Exchange Fund suffered great losses in the first quarter. He described 2008 as a tough year. 金管局總裁任志剛坦言，由於股市異常波動，外匯基金首季勁蝕。他形容今年是困難的一年。
5/4/08	Parents have been urged to be honest to children who face bereavement of close relatives. The call was made by Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre which said people should never underestimate the ability of young children to understand the meaning of death. 明愛向晴軒建議家長對喪親的兒童說實話，不要低估兒童對死亡的理解。
4/4/08	A scout master who permitted two scouts to drive without a license and caused the death of a seven-year-old cyclist was jailed for ten months. The judge said although the accused was a passionate and active man with a love of young people, his momentary stupidity and recklessness had led to the tragedy. 一名童軍旅長容許 2名童軍無牌駕駛，導致一名騎腳踏車的七歲男童死亡，被判入獄 10個月。法官說，被告雖然是熱情、積極的人，喜愛年青人，但他一時愚昧和鹵莽，導致這次悲劇。
3/4/08	The Medical Council has endorsed rules allowing doctors to advertise in newspapers, magazines, journals and periodicals. The ads will be confined to listing fees and providing personal information. Any promotional, misleading and exaggerated phrases such as the best, the most experienced are banned. 醫委會立例容許醫生在報章、雜誌、學報及期刊賣廣告，廣告局限於列出收費及提供個人資料。任何宣傳、失實或誇張的字眼如「最好」或「最老資格」等都被禁。
2/4/08	A survey found that supermarket prices are 12 per cent higher than at grocery stores and some items were priced differently in different outlets of the supermarket chain. Supermarket advertisements mislead shoppers by falsely claiming that the prices of certain products are lower and big discounts are offered. 一項調查發現超市貨品價格較一般零售店高一成二，不同地區分店的售價亦有差異。超市廣告誤導顧客，聲稱超市貨品價格較低及有大折扣。
1/4/08	Hong Kong babies get less sleep than their counterparts, according to a study. Hong Kong's culture of late working, noisy environment and bright lighting may prevent babies from sleeping well. Newborns who do not sleep enough are more likely to suffer from learning and behavioural problems. 一項調查發現，香港嬰兒的睡眠時間較其他地區的嬰兒少。香港人習慣夜間工作、嘈吵的環境及強光會影響嬰兒的睡眠。初生嬰兒睡眠不足，會更易有學習和行為問題。
31/3/08	Shoppers yesterday were rushed into buying rice from supermarket outlets. The rush for the daily staple was triggered by news last week about a possible 30 percent surge in the price of Thai rice. The Consumer Council has appealed to citizens to stay calm as their overreaction will drive up the price even further. 泰國米上周加價達30％，觸發購物者昨日趕到超級市場買米。消費者委員會呼籲市民保持冷靜，過度反應會再推高物價。
30/3/08	The Hospital Authority is upgrading security measures in public hospitals following the disappearance of a baby girl from a hospital ward. The one-year-old girl was taken away by her grandmother without hospital staff being informed. A hospital security camera was not working at the time. 一名 1歲大女嬰，被祖母由醫院擅自帶走，事發時病房的閉路電視失靈。醫管局現正提升公營醫院保安措施。
29/3/08	A bank interviewed more than four-thousand people with liquid assets of between fifty-thousand and two- million dollars, and calculated that the number of millionaires hit 410-thousand at the end of last year before dropping to 350-thousand after the stock market slump. 有銀行訪問了四千多人，他們擁有流動資產五十萬至二百萬，銀行推算出本港去年底擁有資產值達一百萬以上的「百萬富翁」超過 41 萬名。股票市場下跌後，百萬富翁數目下跌至 35 萬名。
28/3/08	A 74-year-old woman who used Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payments to buy two flats was jailed for four months. The magistrate said he didn't believe claims made by the woman that she had bought the flats solely by saving money from her welfare payments. He said the most appropriate way of dealing with the case was to send her to jail. 一名74歲老婦用綜援金買入兩個單位，被判入獄 4個月。裁判官說，不接受被告解釋，儲起用剩的綜援金買樓的講法，認為判監是適當做法。
27/3/08	A tutorial teacher was jailed for three months for hitting a 10-year-old pupil after the boy repeatedly made mistakes in a maths exercise. The defense lawyer said the boy always argued with the teacher and refused to take instructions from him. In passing sentence, the magistrate said the teacher had committed a serious offence and breached the trust the boy had placed in him. 一名補習教師打10歲男學生，因為他多次計錯數，被判入獄3個月。辯方律師表示，男童常「駁嘴」及不服從指令。裁判官判刑時表示，被告犯嚴重罪過，違反學生信任。
26/3/08	A Fanling magistrate yesterday banned the media from publishing photographs of a suspect charged in connection with the recent murders of three sex workers . The order was made at the request of the defendant's lawyer, who said that publishing photos could result in an unfair trial. 粉嶺裁判法院裁判官，昨日應辯方律師要求，禁示傳媒刊登涉嫌謀殺 3名性工作者嫌疑犯的照片，以免影響案件的公平審訊。
25/3/08	According to a survey of the world's 25 most popular theme parks, Hong Kong Disneyland dropped from 18th place in 2006 to 21st last year. Ocean Park , ranked 21st in 2006, jumped to 16th. Hong Kong Disneyland recorded 4.15 million visitors in its second year, down more than 20 percent from its opening year. 據一項全球最旺場之25個主題公園調查顯示，香港迪士尼樂園由 06 年第 18 位，跌至 21 位。海洋公園排名由 06 年第 21 位，跳升至 07 年的第 16 位。香港迪士尼第二年的入場人次是 415 萬，比開幕首年下跌兩成多。
24/3/08	Hopes are fading for 18 Ukrainian crew-members trapped in the tug boat 37 metres under the sea for more than 24 hours after two ships collided off Tuen Mun. The vessel sank late on Saturday night following a collision with a carrier. The 18 crew members are believed to be trapped inside the cabins. 屯門對開沉船意外，拖船上有18名烏克蘭船員失蹤，他們被困 37 米深的海底超過 1日，船員的生還希望逐漸消失。拖船在星期六晚與一艘貨船相撞後沉沒，船上18名船員相信被困在船艙。
23/3/08	The Public Doctors' Association in Hong Kong expressed fears that the government's proposed medical financing reform would fail to keep pace with the rise in medical costs. It has called on the government to consider raising fees and charges at public hospitals to help raise service standards. 公共醫療醫生協會擔心，政府推出的醫療融資方案，醫療供款未能應付成本上升，建議政府考慮增加公營醫療的收費，以提升服務質素。
22/3/08	A new highway, between Sha Tin and Cheung Sha Wan, opened yesterday reducing travelling time between the two districts. The 5.9 kilometre stretch of highway is part of Route 8, which is a strategic road linking Sha Tin and North Lantau . It carried only 7,000 vehiles in the first 9 hours, well short of the 120,000 a day it is designed for. 沙田至長沙灣公路昨日通車，減少來往兩地的車程。青沙公路長五點九公里，屬八號幹貫通沙田與北大嶼山的主要道路。昨日首九小時，公路汽車流量只得 7000 架次，遠低於原本設計容量的每日十二萬架次。
21/3/08	The Society for Protection of the Harbour launched a judicial review against Government's plan to reclaim land in and around the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter. The court ruled yesterday that temporary reclamation was covered by the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance. The proposed Central to Wan Chai Bypass will face further delays. 保護海港協會反對政府計劃在銅鑼灣避風塘填海，提出司法覆核。法院昨日裁定，臨時工程都受保護海港條例約束。中環灣仔繞道工程，將會再遇阻礙。
20/3/08	The government will impose a Basic Law test on all applicants for civil service jobs from September. The purpose is to heighten public awareness of the Basic Law and to promote a culture of learning about the Basic Law in the community. Test results will be one of the considerations to assess the suitability of a candidate. 公務員招聘試 9月起將加入基本法知識測試。基本法知識測試的目的，在於提高大眾對基本法的認知和在社區推廣學習基本法的風氣。測試的表現會被用作評核考生的整體表現的其中一個考慮因素。
19/3/08	Sex workers in Hong Kong are still living in fear despite the arrest of a man who admitted involvement in the murders of three sex workers. But he denied knowledge of the death of the fourth sex worker. A nother suspect could still be at large. 警方逮捕一名男子，他承認與三名鳳姐被殺案有關，但他對第四宗兇案不知情。事件令性工者人心惶惶，因為另一疑兇仍逍遙法外。
18/3/08	A Pakistani man was arrested over serial killings of four sex workers. The four cases have similarities. All the victims appear to have been robbed and strangled to death in their "one-woman brothel" flats. The killings, which started at the weekend, have forced many sex workers to suspend their services. 警方拘捕一名巴基斯坦籍男子，懷疑涉及四名性工作者連環兇殺案。四宗案件相同之處是死者都是在「一樓一鳳」住房內被劫掠及勒死。謀殺案自上星期六出現後，很多性工作者被迫暫停接客。
17/3/08	The Education Secretary Michael Suen said that mother-tongue education was heading in the right direction but would need some “fine-tuning”. He admitted that under the current policy, students educated in Chinese are far from proficient in English. The government aims to blur the distinctions between English and Chinese-medium schools. 教育局局長孫明揚表示，母語教育路向正確，但政策需要微調。他承認，在現行政策下，中中學生的英語水平，距離令人滿意的水平仍有一大段距離。政府致力減低英中和中中的區別。
16/3/08	A territory-wide programme has been launched to recycle used fluorescent tubes and lamps. A collection service will start from next month at more than 400 housing estates. Collection points will also be set up in shops in some shopping malls. The programme is being funded by 15 companies involved in the lighting trade which are aiming to collect 400,000 used fluorescent lamps each year. 一個全港性的慳電膽及光管回收計劃已經啟動。全港超過 400 間屋苑，提供收集服務。商場及店鋪會設置回收箱。計劃由十五間主要照明設備供應商資助，目標是每年回收四十萬枚慳電膽和光管。
15/3/08	The Health Secretary, York Chow, says the government will consider providing free flu vaccine to children under the age of 12 - a move which could cost around $100-million. However, he says the administration first has to study how effective the measure would be, and how it could be implemented. 食物及衛生局長周一嶽表示，政府研究是否為 12 歲或以下兒童免費注射流感疫苖，估計涉及約一億元，但當局會先研究預防效用及怎樣執行。
14/3/08	The Government yesterday released the consultation document on health care reform. It lists six medical financing options which aim to tackle the problem of resource constraints caused by an aging population and rising medical costs, but it raises concerns that it would increase the middle class' tax burdens. 政府昨日公布醫療改革諮詢文件，提出六個融資方案予市民選擇，旨在解決人口老化及醫療成本上漲而導致資源緊絀的問題。但中產人士擔憂醫療改革會增加他們的稅務負擔。
13/3/08	All primary schools, special schools, nurseries and kindergartens across the territory will be closed for two weeks from today to control the further spread of influenza. The Health Secretary, York Chow, said the flu season was expected to peak in the coming few weeks. Chow described the closure as a "preventive" and "administrative" measure to prevent cross infections. 為控制流感在學校繼續蔓延，全港小學、特殊學校、幼兒園及幼稚園，由今日起停課兩周。食物及衛生局長周一嶽表示，預計流感高峰期會持續數周，他形容停課是一次「防止性行政決定」，防止交叉感染。
12/3/08	The Tuen Mun school attended by a seven-year-old boy who died yesterday will close early for the Easter holidays. 35 students from the school have come down with flu-like symptoms since late last month and five are in hospital. The Government has set up an expert team to probe the deaths of three children recently after exhibiting symptoms of influenza. 七歲男童病逝，男童就讀的屯門小學提早放復活節假。從上月底起，該小學有35名學童出現流感徵狀，其中5人留院。政府成立一個專家小組，調查近期三宗幼童出現流感徵狀後死亡個案。
11/3/08	A tutor who was a repeat sex offender was jailed yesterday. He had three previous convictions for indecent assault. He opened a tutorial school so that he could get close to young girls and sexually assault them. The judge raised the question of whether parents are entitled to know the backgrounds of tutorial school teachers. 一名曾多次干犯非禮罪的補習教師昨被判入獄。涉案補習教師有三次非禮案底，他開設補習社，以圖接近及非禮年輕女學生。法官提出一個問題，家長是否有權知道補習教師的背景。
10/3/08	A survey by the UN Children's Fund has found that corporal punishment is common in Hong Kong homes. Children who received corporal punishment were often less self-confident, more emotional and had lower self-esteem than those who did not. Unicef calls for legislation to ban corporal punishment. 聯合國兒童基金會調查發現，香港家庭常用體罰。被體罰的兒童自信心較低，情緒較不穩定及自尊心較低。基金會要求政府立法禁止體罰。
9/3/08	The governor of Guangdong , Huang Huahua, revealed that the Hong Kong , Macau , Zhuhai bridge will cost 42.2 billion Yuan. He also said that it is expected to take 36 years for the cost to be recovered. 廣東省省長黃華華透露，預計港珠澳大橋造價要 422 億元人民幣，落成後36 年半才收回成本。
8/3/08	Footage of scuffle between a teacher and a student at a secondary school in Tung Chung had been posted on the Internet. The school's deputy principal said the teacher had been forced to take action when the student lost control of his emotions. He said the teacher had since resigned for 'personal reasons.' 一段涉及東涌一間中學一名老師與學生發生衝突的片段在網上流傳。副校長表示，老師當時是要控制一名情緒失控的學生，又說該名老師以私人理由辭職。
7/3/08	The government has announced a string of contingency measures to combat flu. The measures include shortened visiting hours in public hospitals, daily announcements of outbreaks and a public-education campaign. People are urged to build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest, and reducing stress. 政府宣佈一系列臨時應變措施對抗流感，包括縮短公立醫院探訪時間，每日公佈流感爆發數目及公眾教育運動。要預防流感，市民應注意均衡飲食、定時運動、有足夠休息和減輕壓力，以增強身體的抵抗力。
6/3/08	In a landmark decision, the panel of appeal judges overturned a district court’s decision in a divorce case to grant the wife one-third of her husband's assets and ruled that the assets held by the couple would be split evenly between them. The panel said the "reasonable requirements" matrimonial principle was outdated and should be replaced by the new approach. 上訴庭首次裁決，推翻區域法院在一宗離婚案件中，判妻子獲得丈夫的三分之一資產之判決。上訴庭裁定要夫婦平均分配二人擁有之資產。上訴庭法官表示，「合理需要」的婚姻原則已經過時，應由新的方法代替。
5/3/08	A three-year old girl who died less than 24 hours after falling ill with flu symptoms was confirmed to have contracted the A-H-3 virus. Her six-year old sister was also confirmed to have A-H-3 flu and was in a stable condition last night. The family blamed Tuen Mun Hospital for failing to admit the child when she had a high fever. 一名有流感症狀的三歲女童，發病不足一日即告不治，被證實感染H3甲型病毒，她的六歲姊姊，亦被證實感染H3甲型流感，昨晚情況穩定。女童家人指責屯門醫院未安排發高燒小童留醫。
4/3/08	A lovelorn salesman who put nude photos and sex videos of his former girlfriend on the internet had his sentence increased from community service to a two-month jail term yesterday. The magistrate said the internet is a virtual world where many people will easily loosen their morals and become neglectful about the consequences of their acts. 一名失戀的售貨員上載前女友的裸照及性行為片段至互聯網，原被判罰社會服務令，昨加判入獄兩個月。裁判官表示，互聯網是虛擬世界，不少人妄顧道德，忽略他們行為所帶來的後果。
3/3/08	Thousands of fans paid their respect to Lydia Shum at a memorial service held at the Hung Hom Stadium. Shum's former husband Cheng Siu-chow was forced to go on stage and explain why he had not shown up before Shum's death. His daughter asked the audience not to allow gossip to affect the occasion of remembering her mother. 數千名沈殿霞影迷出席在紅磡體育館的追思會。沈殿霞前夫鄭少秋被迫上台解釋沒有探望病重的沈殿霞。女兒鄭欣宜希望觀眾不要被是非影響到這個追思會。
2/3/08	A Chinese restaurant in To Kwa Wan closed, leaving more than 50 workers jobless. The employees said they were given pay cheques of 60 percent of their salaries, but the cheques bounced. The Secretary for Labour, Matthew Cheung, said the government is monitoring about 20 restaurants which it thinks are facing the possibility of winding up their business. 土瓜灣一間中式酒家結業，五十名多工人失業。有員工表示，收到東主以支票支付的六折薪金，但支票未能兌現。勞工及福利局局長張建宗表示，政府正留意二十多間有可能結業的食肆。
1/3/08	Tung Wah Hospital found that tissue samples from two patients had been mixed up, which resulted in delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer in the 69-year-old male patient and unnecessary treatment of the 72-year-old patient. Following the incident, the hospital has immediately reviewed the relevant operational procedures to avoid recurrence of a similar incident in future. 東華醫院察覺一宗將兩名男病人組織檢查化驗結果錯誤調換的事故，導致一名七十二歲男病人接受不必要的治療，而另一名六十九歲男病人則於稍後時間才能被確診為前列腺癌。事件發生後，院方已立即檢討有關操作程序，以防止再發生類似事件。
29/2/08	A single mother who left her five young daughters unattended at home while she went window-shopping at a mall was placed on probation for two years. The magistrate said the accused had suffered an unfortunate childhood and an unhappy marriage. He hoped she would learn to become a responsible mother. 一名單親母親，將5名年幼女兒獨留在家，到商場瀏覽，被判接受兩年感化。裁判官說，被告成長背景不幸，婚姻不愉快，希望她能學習做過負責任的母親。
28/2/08	The Financial Secretary, John Tsang, announced a record surplus of $115.6 billion in his first budget speech yesterday. He offered HK75 billion one-off handouts and benefits for almost everyone. These include tax cuts and rebates for the middle class, a one-off HK$6,000 injection into the mandatory provident fund accounts of low-income workers, a HK$1,800 electricity subsidy for households and a one-off grant of $3,000 for the elderly. 財政司司長曾俊華昨日公布首份財政預算案，政府錄得歷史新高的一千一百五十六億元盈餘。他推出七百五十億元，幾乎人人有份的派送和津貼措施，包括向中產階層提供減稅及退稅，一次過注資六千元供款給低收入工人的強積金戶口，一次過注資六千元供款給低收入工人的強積金戶口，為全港的住?補貼一千八百元電費及為長者發放一次性三千元的津貼。
27/2/08	More than 400 new HIV infections were reported last year, the highest annual number on record. Men aged between 30 and 39 have the highest rate of infection. A consultant doctor attributed the increase to unsafe sexual practices by homosexuals and bisexuals. He warned that the riskier people's behavior became, the more likely they would contract the virus. 去年本港的新感染愛滋病個案有400多宗，是有紀錄以來最多的一年。30至39歲男性感染率最高。顧問醫生把個案增加歸咎於同性戀者及雙性戀者的不安全性行為。他警告，愈高危的性行為，愈易感染愛滋病毒。
26/2/08	Veteran newsman Robert Chow Yung publicly declared that he has applied for the director of broadcasting job in answer to what he termed prejudice and discrimination against non-degree holders like himself. Chow said he is a role model, showing young people who have been looked down on that "effort makes success." 資深新聞工作者周融公開宣佈，已申請廣播處長一職，以回應他所指偏見及歧視像他沒有大學學位的人。周融表示，他是一個模範，給被瞧不起的年青人看，「努力獲得成功」。
25/2/08	Several groups marched to the Central Government Offices where they delivered their demands to the financial secretary. The democratic camps hoped the government would introduce tax relief measures for the middle-class, raise the Old Age Allowance and create more jobs. Middle Class Union urged the government to reduce fuel prices and increase personal tax allowances. 多個團體發起遊行到政府總部，向財政司表達訴求。泛民團體希望政府製定中產寬減稅務措施、增加生果金和創造就業機會。中產聯盟要求減燃料稅及提高個人免稅額。
24/2/08	The Chairman of the Elderly Commission, Dr Leong Che-hung, has called for more flexibility in various elderly subsidies. He said that the government should consider increasing old age allowance (fruit money). The old people who are on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance should be allowed to receive financial assistance from their family. 安老事務委員會主席梁智鴻要求更靈活處理各種各樣的老人津貼。他表示，政府應研究增加長者津貼(生果金)，並容許接受綜援的長者，同時接受子女供養長。
23/2/08	The policy of mother-tongue teaching has been implemented for ten years. Education Secretary Michael Suen Ming-yeung has admitted that although students have marked improvement in many subjects, there is still room for improvement in their English. He said that secondary schools could be given freedom to choose whether to teach in English or Chinese. 母語教學政策推行 10 年，孫明揚承認學生多科成績進步顯著，但在英語方面仍然有改進的空間。孫明揚表示，應給與學校選擇教學語言的自由。
22/2/08	Singer and actor Edison Chen Koon-hei announced he is taking indefinite retirement from the entertainment industry. Chen was speaking publicly for the first time since the indecent photos of artists appeared on the internet. He said the photos had been stolen and published on the web without his consent. He apologised to the women involved and the people of Hong Kong. 歌影藝人陳冠希宣布無限期地退出娛樂圈。自從網上出現藝人不雅照片後，陳冠希首次公開露面交代。他表示照片被人非法盜取，未經他同意，放上互聯網。他向受影響的女性及香港人道歉。
21/2/08	The Obscene Articles Tribunal has classified the publication of sexually explicit photos of Hong Kong celebrities in Next Magazine and Oriental Sunday as Class I articles, or neither obscene nor indecent on an interim basis. The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority is demanding a full public hearing so that the public can have a clearer understanding of the tribunal's classification standards. 淫褻物品審裁處將刊登與藝人不雅照片有關的「壹週刊」及「東方新地」，暫定為第一類物品，即既非淫褻、亦非不雅。影視處要求公開聆訊，能讓公眾更清晰明白審裁處評定物品的標準。
20/2/08	Hong Kong actress Lydia Shum died at the age of 62. Shum, who was recognizable by her trademark dark-rimmed glasses, distinct robust size and loud and clear laughter, had starred in more than 40 movies and television dramas. The Chief Executive said that she represented a lot of values Hong Kongers respect. 香港女演員沈殿霞逝世，終年62歲。她的招牌黑眼鏡框、明顯的圓潤身驅及響亮的笑聲深入民心。她主演過四十多部影片及電視劇集。行政長官說，她代表香港人所尊崇的很多價值觀念。
19/2/08	The Hong Kong Alliance of Parents Association said the nude photo scandal had afforded parents an opportunity for discussion with their children. Its chairwoman said,” We want the teenagers to know more about the limits of freedom and how to respect others’ privacy.” 香港家長聯盟表示，裸照醜聞給予家長與子女一個討論的機會。聯盟主席說：「我們希望青少年知道更多有關自由的界限及怎樣尊重別人的私隱。」
18/2/08	Against Elderly Abuse handled 1,570 cases last year, 38 per cent more than the 1,136 cases in 2006. About a third of the cases involved “financial abuse”. A quarter involved “psychological abuse”, which might include overloading elderly people with work, mocking them or leaving them alone at home. 香港防止虐待長者協會去年共處理一千五百七十宗長者被虐個案，較0六年一千一百多宗上升三成八。求助個案之中，錢銀糾紛佔三成一；四成一個案涉及精神虐待，包括強迫他們做過多工作、嘲笑長者或獨留長者在家。
17/2/08	Legislator and the chairman of bank of East Asia , David Li resigned as executive Councilor. Mr. Li said that although the issue of trading in the shares of Dow Jones and Company had already come to an end, he regretted that the mater had caused public concern. 立法會議員及東亞銀行主席李國寶辭任行政會議成員一職。李國寶說，雖然涉及道瓊斯內幕交易的事件已完結，他為事件引起公眾的關注感到抱歉。
16/2/08	Chung Yik-tin, the first man accused of publishing an obscene article of an artist and refused bail, was freed after the prosecution dropped the charge against him. The nude photo he punished was classified as indecent by the Obscene Articles Tribunal. Mr. Chung's detention has been strongly criticised, with the other accused all being granted bail. 網上發布淫褻藝人照片首名被告鍾亦天，獲撤銷控罪，當庭釋放。鍾亦天在網上發布的照片被淫褻物品審裁處評定不雅。鍾亦天被扣押，而其他被起訴者卻可以保釋，事件受到批評。
15/2/08	The ombudsman, Alice Tai, urged the government to play a more active role in ensuring that schools look after the needs of students with learning difficulties. She said that some schools were very sensitive, while others were callous. 申訴專員戴婉瑩要求政府起積極作用，令學校照顧有學習困難學生，她表示有些學校對這方面很審慎處理，另一些學校則毫不關心。
14/2/08	A survey has found that youth pregnancy is on the rise. Caritas Youth and Community Service interviewed 51 women under the age of 24 who had had abortions. More than forty percent became pregnant again. The group is concerned that many young people may now be rushing into sex without considering the consequences. 一項調查發現，青少年未婚懷孕增加。明愛青少年及社區服務訪問了 51名24歲以下曾進行中止懷孕的女子，有4成多受訪者再次懷孕。負責調查的組織關注青少年倉促有性行為，而沒有考慮到後果。
13/2/08	Residents from "cage hostels" and partitioned flats met legislators to voice their concerns. They say steep rent increases mean that the people who can least afford housing are suffering the most. The Society for Community Organization called on the government to re-introduce rent controls, increase rental subsidies and the social security allowance. 籠屋及板間房的居民到立法會與議員會面，表達他們的憂慮。他們表示，租金急促上升意味著最不能支付房屋者受害。社區組織協會要求政府再重訂租務管制，增加租金津貼及綜援金額。
12/2/08	Canto pop-star, Gillian Chung, one of the alleged victims of the recent publication of nude pictures of artists , broke her silence yesterday. In a brief announcement to fans and media, she apologised for the impact the incident had had on society. She admitted she had been "naive and silly" in the past. 疑似藝人網上祼照事件，其中一名受害人女藝人鍾欣桐，昨日打破沈默。在一個簡短的聲明中，鍾欣桐對事件為社會大眾帶來影響，深感抱歉。她承認自己以前很傻、很天真。
11/2/08	A survey conducted by Green Sense shows that only a quarter of women think flowers are necessary for Valentine's Day but 70-percent of male respondents said flowers should be given. Green Sense says people should consider giving small plants instead of flowers, and keep wrapping to the minimum. 環保觸覺調查發現，只有兩成半受訪女士認為，情人節送花是必要的；持同樣想法的男士有七成。環保觸覺建議以盆栽代替送鮮花及少用包裝紙。
10/2/08	Mary Lau, the wife of the Singapore Straits Times correspondent, Ching Cheong, said the family was extremely grateful to all those who helped to secure his early release. She said her husband wanted to accomplish all he had set out to do. 新加坡《海峽時報》特派員程翔的妻子劉敏儀表示，感激各界為爭取提前釋放程翔，所付出的努力。她說，程翔想完成所有的計劃。
9/2/08	The 2008 Lunar New Year fireworks display lit up the sky over Victoria Harbour last night. The display included the Chinese characters for " Beijing " and "2008" in celebration of the Beijing Olympics. 370,000 people watched the spectacular fireworks display from many vantage points on both sides of the harbour. 昨夜 2008農曆年煙花匯演照亮維港上空，煙花匯演有「北京 2008」字樣，以慶祝北京奧運。有 37萬名市民，於維港兩岸有利位置觀賞壯觀的煙花表演。
8/2/08	Chief Executive Donald Tsang wishes Hong Kong people good health, family harmony and many blessings in the Year of the Rat. Mr. Tsang said the holiday is the most important festival to Chinese people with every family decorating their home. Whether the celebrations are lavish or humble, the most important thing is members of the family, young and old, can get together happily to share their stories. 行政長官曾蔭權祝願香港市民鼠年安康、家庭和睦、萬事如意。曾蔭權表示，農曆新年是中國人最重視的節日，家家戶戶都為春節來臨布置居室。他表示，度歲其實「豐儉由人」，最重要的是一家大小可以開開心心聚首一堂。
7/2/08	The government has published a bill proposing a fixed penalty fine of $1,500 for lighting-up in non-smoking areas. Officers from the Leisure and Cultural Services, Food and Environmental Hygiene and Housing Departments would be deployed to carry out enforcement action. They would have the power to demand identity cards from suspected offenders. 政府就違例吸煙定額罰款刊憲，違例人士要繳交 1500 元罰款。當局會賦予康文署、食環署及房屋署官員權力執法，他們有權要求懷疑犯事者出示身份証。
6/2/08	The reporter for Singapore 's The Straits Times , Ching Cheong, who was jailed for five years for providing state secrets to Taiwan , returned to the territory after being released from a mainland prison on parole. He was detained in China in April 2005. Over the last two years, Mr Ching's wife had pressed for his release on health grounds. 新加坡《海峽時報》記者程翔，被內地當局指控提供國家情報給台灣，被判入獄 5年，獲准假釋回港。程翔在2005年4月被扣留，他的妻子在過去兩年以健康理由爭取程翔獲釋。
5/2/08	The police revealed that obscene and indecent photographs of local pop and film stars that were placed on the internet, came from a computer that was taken in for repair. It contained 1,300 photos featuring singer Edison Chen and six women - including four celebrities. The police have charged a man with accessing a computer with criminal or dishonest intent. 警方揭露，網上發布的藝人不雅照片，來源是一部維修的電腦。照片超過1300張，涉及陳冠希及6名女子，包括知名人物。警方起訴一名歲男子「不誠實取用電腦罪」。
4/2/08	A survey on violence among children has found that more than half of its respondents exhibit some form of reactive-aggressive behaviour. And some students admitted to resorting to violence to resolve conflicts with schoolmates. A spokesman for the group said schools need to teach pupils more about conflict-resolution. 一項有關青少年暴力的調查發現，有五成多受訪學生顯示有暴力對待的行為，有學生承認採用暴力去解決與同學的爭執。團體的發言人表示，學校需要教導學生多些解決衝突的方法。
3/2/08	The Secretary for Food and Health, York Chow, said while food supplies to Hong Kong remain stable for now, some instability may set in later. Dr Chow said the ongoing weather crisis in China will cause an inevitable rise in food prices here, amid tightening supplies on the Mainland. 食物及衛生局局長周一嶽表示，供港食物仍然穩定，但其後可能出現不穩。他說，由於內地的天災持續，供港的食物緊縮，食品價格無可避免地上升。
2/2/08	The Hong Kong Government has urged local charity groups to apply for grants from the Disaster Relief Fund to provide emergency aid to to help Mainland snowstorm victims. It will process their applications as soon as possible. The government has conveyed Hong Kong people's sympathies to those affected by the storm. 香港政府呼籲慈善團體向賑災基金申請撥款，以協助內地雪災災民；政府將全速處理有關申請。政府已向中央政府表達全體市民對災民的慰問與關懷。
1/2/08	A Chinese University research team found that students from Chinese-medium secondary schools have a 50 percent less chance of entering universities when compared with students from English-medium schools. The researchers suggested the Education Bureau should allow schools more flexibility in the choice of language which should be determined by the school subjects and the special needs of students. 中文大學一個研究小組發現，中中生入讀本港大學的機會，較英中生大減一半。研究員建議，政府應給中學更大彈性，按科目及學生需要自訂教學語言。
31/1/08	The Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild has condemned the increasing circulation and uploading of obscene photographs on the internet. The victims include artists Cheung Pak-chi and Chung Yan-tung. Alan Tam, the guild’s chairman, said the circulation of such photos has created a bad atmosphere in society. He warned people to take care of their personal digital files. 香港演藝人協會譴責在互聯網傳閱及上載淫穢照片。受害者包括藝人張柏芝及鍾欣桐。協會會長譚詠麟表示，傳閱淫穢照片產生不良社會風氣。他告誡市民小心私人電子資料。
30/1/08	The continuous snow in vast areas in the southern and eastern parts of Mainland China has seriously disrupted air and rail transport links with Hong Kong. Many flights from Hong Kong to the mainland have been cancelled or delayed. The MTR says three through-trains are delayed somewhere in central China. 由於中國內地南部和東部廣泛地區雪災持續，來往香港及內地的陸空交通嚴重受影響，多班航機被取消或延遲。港鐵表示，三班直通車在華中延誤。
29/1/08	In a consultation paper released yesterday, the Law Reform Commission has proposed broadening the pool of jurors, making it more representative of the community. Certain professions - such as doctors, dentists, pilots and priests - will no longer be exempt from jury service. The age limit will be increased from 65 to 70. 法律改革委員會昨日公布諮詢文件，建議擴大適任陪審員人士的範圍，使更能代表社會。某些專業人士如醫生、牙醫、機師及神職人員，不再被豁免出任陪審員。獲豁免的年齡上限，亦會由65歲提升至70歲。
28/1/08	According to a survey, 88 per cent of Primary 3 to Primary 6 pupils said their parents had left them at home alone. 95 per cent of pupils believed they could take care of themselves when left alone. Parents had left their children at home because they were “going to the market”, “going to work” and “handling some unexpected issues”. 一項調查發現，青衣區八成八小三至小六學生表示曾獨留在家，九成五學生相信他們能照顧自己。家長則指曾獨留子女，原因是要到街市買菜、上班及有急事外出。
27/1/08	According to a survey by Green Power in Hong Kong , 90 percent of respondents are planning a more environmentally friendly Lunar New Year. More than 50 percent said they planned to use old laisee packets this year and won't wrap presents. In doing so, 1200 trees will be saved. 根據綠色力量一項調查發現，近九成受訪市民會響應過環保新年；超過一半表示會用舊的利是封，亦不會包裝賀年禮品。如果這樣做，可節省1200棵樹。
26/1/08	Thirty-six new Hong Kong deputies have been elected to the National People's Congress. All but two of the incumbent candidates were re-elected. High-profile candidates from the professions were generally successful, but no one from the pro-democracy camp came remotely close to winning a seat. The President of the Legislative Council, Rita Fan recorded the highest vote. 新一屆港區全國人大代表產生，選出 36 名人大代表。除兩人外，現任代表全部連任。高姿態的專業候選人普遍地當選，但泛民主派候選人大比數落敗。立法會主席范徐麗泰得票最多。
25/1/08	The Hong Kong Medical Council failed to overturn a judgment allowing doctors to advertise their services in the media. The council was concerned about misleading advertisements and the exploitation of the sick. But the Appeal Court said that the Council's own code already permitted information from doctors to be posted on signboards and service information notices. 醫務委員會就禁止醫生賣廣告的上訴失敗。醫委會擔心有誤導性的廣告及病人受剝削。上訴庭認為，醫務委員會守則是容許醫生可以透過廣告牌及電話簿，展示醫生個人資料。
24/1/08	A 14-year-old boy was arrested for hacking into the computers of eight secondary schools. He told the police his form three classmates had taught him the procedure and he had done it for fun. The boy could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Police warn teenagers against engaging in such illegal activity. 一名14歲男童因為入侵8間學校的電腦而被捕。男童告訴警方，一名中三同學教他入侵步驟，少年因貪玩而犯案。男童一經定罪最高可被判處入獄5年。警方告誡青少年，不可參與此等非法活動。
23/1/08	Increases in food prices pushed the Consumer Price Index figures up to 3.8 percent in December. Pork prices rose almost 43 percent compared with a year earlier. A government spokesman said inflation would rise, with higher global food inflation, rising oil prices, a weaker US dollar and a stronger Chinese currency. 食品價格上升促使上月份的消費物價指數上升3.8%，豬肉價格比一年前上升43%。政府發言人指，環球食品價格上漲、油價高企、美元疲弱和人民幣升值將繼續為通脹帶來上升。
22/1/08	The government's Exchange Fund has posted a record $142.2- billion investment return for last year. This is up 37 percent from the previous year. However, the Chief Executive of the Monetary Authority, Joseph Yam, is not optimistic that the high earnings in the past two years can be sustained this year as the investment environment will be more challenging. 政府去年在外匯基金投資獲得破紀錄的1422億港元，較去年上升37%。然而，金管局總裁任志剛表示，要維持過往兩年高回報，並不樂觀，今年投資環境更具挑戰性。
21/1/08	A survey by the Caritas Community Development Service has found that low-skilled workers who have a form-three education or less earn an average of only 5,600 dollars a month -- or around half the median salary in Hong Kong. The survey also found that a third of the respondents work more than 60 hours a week. 明愛社區發展服務一項調查發現，中三或以下教育程度的低技能勞工，平均月入只得5600元，工資中位數只及全港入息中位數的五成。調查又發現，三成受訪工人每周工作超過60小時。
20/1/08	The Financial Secretary, John Tsang, says he will be cautious in handling a high government surplus this year. Mr. Tsang said the government would try to respond to the community's aspirations . Owing to recent strong development in the property and stock markets the fiscal surplus will be larger than expected. 財政司司長曾俊華表示，政府會善用額外盈餘，回應市民的期望及訴求。由於樓市及股市蓬勃，盈餘亦比預期多。
19/1/08	The Government announced changes to the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme to cast a wider net for quality migrants. It will benefit the young and the less experienced. The Scheme was introduced in 2006 to attract quality migrants to the territory. More than 1,200 applications have been received, but just 322 have been approved. 政府宣佈修訂優才計劃，以網羅更多優秀人才。年輕及工作經驗較淺者受惠。計劃 2006年推出，收到1200多宗申請，只批出322宗。
18/1/08	The Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, says the timetable for universal suffrage as laid down by the Central authorities is firm. He says some people have always doubted the sincerity of the Central authorities but they should work constructively towards achieving universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020. 行政長官曾蔭權表示，中央定出普選時間表是牢不可破的。他說，有人常以懷疑眼光去揣測中央落實時間表的誠意，但他們應務實地同心協力實現2017及2020年普選。
17/1/08	Shares worldwide have been battered by weak US retail sales and a record loss posted by Citigroup, igniting fears over a global recession. The Hang Seng Index plunged 1,386 points - its biggest one-day percentage fall since the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. 全球股市受到美國零售衰弱及花旗集團空前的虧損打擊，憂慮全球經濟陷入衰退。恒指下挫1386點，創下自2001年911襲擊後最大單日跌幅。
16/1/08	The wholesale price of pork yesterday surged 70 percent to a record high of HK$2,400 per 100 catties. Some meat shops were selling pork at HK$48 a catty yesterday. The price has almost doubled in a year. Buyers said the price hike was due to a drop in the number of live pigs shipped to Hong Kong. 昨日活豬批發價上升七成至2400元一擔新高。昨日一些肉店豬肉售48元一斤，一年售價上升近一培。活豬買手表示，由於運港活豬數目下跌，價格上升。
15/1/08	According to a Polytechnic University survey, 63 per cent of people disagree that more public money should be spent on Hong Kong Disneyland. 54 per cent thought the deal between the government and the Walt Disney Company, which saw the government provide HK$13.6 billion for land reclamation and infrastructure, was unfair. 理工大學的調查發現，63%受訪者不同意政府向樂園投放更多資金，54%認為當年政府耗資一百三十六億填海及興建基礎設施，吸引迪士尼樂園來港的交易不公平。
14/1/08	A man was injured by the spinning rotors of a radio-controlled helicopter yesterday. He suffered severe injuries to his head. The incident occurred on an empty piece of Government land in Tseung Kwan O, where public entry is prohibited, and signs have been put up warning enthusiasts against operating radio-controlled aircraft. 一名男子昨日被一架遙控模型直升機的螺旋槳擊傷頭部，情況嚴重。事發地點在將軍澳政府官地，不准進入，現場亦有警告牌，禁止發燒友不可在該處操控遙控模型直升機。
13/1/08	The government has obtained an injunction against Citizens Radio's broadcasts. A legal expert said guests who attended Citizens Radio's programmes or provided assistance to the programme organizers could be charged with contempt of court. 高等法院頒布臨時禁制令，限制「民間電台」廣播。有法律學者指，出席或協助「民間電台」廣播，亦可能屬藐視法庭。
12/1/08	Thick fog disrupted some ferry services between Hong Kong and Macau . A number of flights were also affected. Visibility of just a few hundred metres led to a minor collision between a jetfoil and a mainland fishing boat off Lantau Island . The foggy conditions are expected to persist. 來往港澳的客輪服務受大霧延誤。能見度曾經只有一百米，導致一艘噴射船在大嶼山對開海面，與一艘內地漁船輕微相撞。有霧的情況預料持續。
11/1/08	Organisers of Citizens' Radio defied a court injunction barring them from broadcasting without a licence. They made an unauthorised live broadcast of a street forum in Mongkok, which was attended by six democrat legislators. They said they were prepared to take the consequences of civil disobedience. 民間電台無理會法庭禁令，無牌在旺角現場廣播街頭論壇，六名民主派立法會議參加廣播。他們準備承擔公民抗命的後果。
10/1/08	The Consumer Council urged bakeries to lower the price of bread after a decision to exempt Hong Kong from an export tax on mainland flour. It said shops should show corporate social responsibility by maintaining fair prices. When the tax was announced last week, many bakeries immediately raised their prices. 內地決定免除供港麵粉出口稅後，消費者委員呼籲麵包店調低麵包售價。麵包店應有企業社會責任，維持公平價格。當上星期宣佈徵稅後，多間麵包店即時加價。
9/1/08	A single mother who disposed of the body of her three-year-old son at a rubbish dump was sentenced to 32 months in prison. The accused said her son had choked to death. The judge described her actions as sinister. He said the disposal had been carefully planned to conceal the body, and prevent a proper investigation of how the boy died. 一名單親母親，將3歲兒子屍體棄置垃圾堆，被判入獄32個月。被告稱兒子是鯁死。法官表示，被告的做法是邪惡的，被告存心隱藏兒子屍體，妨礙死因調查。
8/1/08	Households can expect double-digit tariff reductions in their electricity bills later this year. This follows agreement with Hong Kong's two power companies on the rate of return of the revised scheme of control - that regulates profits on their investments. The new arrangement will limit their annual earnings to 9.99 percent - down from between 13.5 and 15 per cent. 今年年底家用電費減幅可達雙位數，政府與兩間電力公司簽署新的管制計劃協議，兩電准許利潤回報率由13.5%至15%，降至9.99%。
7/1/08	A 52-year man is in critical condition in Tuen Mun Hospital after being given a blood transfusion suspected of being contaminated with bacteria. An independent panel has been set up to investigate how the bacteria got into the blood transfusion bag. Blood-donation records also show the donor to be in good health. 屯門醫院發生輸血事故，一名52歲男病人懷疑被輸入含細菌的血液，情況危殆。醫管局成立專家小組，調查血包含菌的原因。捐血紀錄顯示，捐血者健康良好。
6/1/08	The Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, said that radical politics would only damage communications between Hong Kong and the Central Government. Mr Tsang urged the different sectors to give up debates on ideology, and work on the electoral modes for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council in 2012. 行政長官曾蔭權表示，激進的政治只會破壞香港與中央溝通。他呼籲各界拋棄爭辯，首要做好 2012 年行政長官和立法會的選舉安排。
5/1/08	Tolls at the Western Harbour Tunnel crossing will be raised starting on Sunday. The new toll for private cars will be $45 - or more than double the $20 charge at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. The Western Harbour Tunnel Company explained that the adjustments were necessary as its debt level had reached four billion dollars. 西區海底隧道周日起加價，私家車過海費收 45 元，比紅磡隧道 20 元多於一倍。對於調整決定，西隧公司解釋是負債已達至 40 億元。
4/1/08	Sheng Hua-ren, vice chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress, says Hong Kong people who want to represent the territory in National People's Congress must be patriotic and support the Basic Law and the One Country Two Systems concept. 36 new Hong Kong deputies will be elected in a poll to be held on the 25th of this month. 全國人大常委會副委員長盛華仁表示，成為港區人大代表必須愛國、擁護基本法和一國兩制。36名港區人大代表將會在本月25號選出。
3/1/08	A mainland couple fell ill after eating wild mushrooms picked from a park in South Africa. They arrived in Hong Kong yesterday suffering from stomach pain, diarrhoea and headache. The woman died of multiple organ failure. Her husband is in stable condition. 一對內地夫婦在南非進食野生菇類後病倒，他們昨天抵港，出現胃痛、腹瀉及頭痛，女子因多個器官衰竭死亡，她的丈夫情況穩定。
2/1/08	The year began with CLP Power and Hongkong Electric increasing their tariffs by 4.5 and 6 percent, respectively. Utility and transport companies have increased their tariffs and fares, or are planning to do so. Economists expect inflation to hit 5 percent this year, the worst in 10 years. There are also increases in the prices of food items such as pork, flour, poultry and vegetables. 新年開始，中電及港燈增加電費4.5% 及6%，其他公用事業及運輸公司已加價或計劃加價。經濟學家預料今年通脹高達5%，是十年來最差。主要食品如豬肉、麵粉、家禽及蔬菜亦加價。
1/1/08	Hong Kong entered a new era of digital broadcasting with the official launch of digital terrestrial television yesterday. A new digital broadcasting era will bring to viewers a wider array of quality TV programmes and entertainment, as well as a brand new audio-visual experience. The initial launch of DTT broadcasting will cover about 50% of the population in Hong Kong . 數碼地面電視於昨日正式啟播，標誌著香港正式進入數碼廣播的新紀元。數碼廣播新紀元，為觀眾帶來更豐富、更優質的電視資訊和娛樂，及全新的視聽效果。數碼廣播推出初段將覆蓋約一半的香港人口。
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