Hong Kong  - A former Hong Kong flight attendant who stole 168 items from the plane's trolleys on a single flight was Tuesday sentenced to community service.

Kwong Man-fong, 43, purloined biscuits, beer, mineral water, wine, chocolates, a sewing kit, pens, instant noodles and shaving cream on the Cathay Pacific flight from Auckland to Hong Kong on July 27.

Two junior colleagues spotted Kwong, who had worked for the Hong Kong airline for 23 years, and reported her to the captain. She resigned and was prosecuted for theft by the airline.

Hong Kong - The popularity of Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang has fallen to a new low amid the worsening economic slump, according to a survey released Tuesday.

The chief executive of the former British colony was given a score of 50.7 points out of 100 in the monthly poll by the city's Chinese University, down from more than 60 out of 100 in May.

Hong Kong - Live chicken sales are to resume in Hong Kong, three weeks after a bird flu outbreak that led to the slaughter of tens of thousands of birds, officials said Monday.

Imports of live chickens from mainland China will restart and markets will be able to sell live poultry from Tuesday morning, the territory's government announced.

The resumption of live chicken sales comes after the most severe bird flu scare to hit the city of 6.9 million in recent years, triggered by an outbreak on a chicken farm on December 9.

Hong Kong  - Striking baggage handlers at Hong Kong International Airport were preparing for fresh negotiations Sunday after agreeing to take no further action during the holiday season.

Thousands of passengers were delayed or left the airport without their luggage after 1,000 ground workers staged a three-hour strike Saturday over bonus cuts.

The strike on one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year was staged by members of a union after their traditional end of year bonus was halved because of the global economic crisis.

New Delhi, Dec 27 : Chinese kids who fell ill or died after drinking tainted baby formula milk will soon get financial compensation from 22 Chinese dairy producers, China's Dairy Industry Association has announced on Saturday.

Victims will get a one-time cash payment, according to the association said, which however did not divulge the specific amounts that may be doled out.

"The enterprises offered to shoulder the compensation liability. By doing so, they hope to earn understanding and forgiveness of the families of the sickened children," Xinhua reported.

Hong Kong  - A three-year study is to be conducted in Hong Kong into the effects of an earthquake on the high-rise city of 6.9 million, officials said Saturday.

Geologists will examine the effect of a magnitude seven earthquake on the steep, landslip-prone hillsides in the densely populated wealthy former British colony.

The study is to begin in 2009, a year after the devastating Sichuan earthquake in China. Hong Kong has donated millions of US dollars towards rebuilding in quake-affected areas.