Hong Kong  - Safety checks on lifts in Hong Kong's high-rise apartment blocks were being stepped up Wednesday after five people were trapped between floors in the latest of a series of scares.

In the most serious incident, a lift plunged 14 floors to the ground on October 25 as seven of its eight steel supporting cables snapped seconds after a woman stepped out.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong shares fell by almost 5 per cent Tuesday as enthusiasm over China's 600-billion-US-dollar economic stimulus package waned amid fresh fears over corporate results.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index lost 703.73 points, or 4.77 per cent, to close at 14,040.9. Turnover was 54.3 billion Hong Kong dollars (7 billion US dollars).

Hong Kong - A prominent retired businessman appeared in court Tuesday, accused of taking bribes of more than 50,000 US dollars for helping people join Hong Kong's prestigious Jockey Club.

John Hung, 70, a former executive director of Wharf Holdings and managing director of a property company, allegedly accepted the money in return for proposing applicants for full membership.

He is accused of soliciting a loan of more than 25,000 US dollars and accepting two other loans of 12,500 US dollars in return for helping would-be members.

Hong Kong  - A prominent retired businessman appeared in court Tuesday, accused of taking bribes of more than 50,000 US dollars for helping people join Hong Kong's prestigious Jockey Club.

John Hung, 70, a former executive director of Wharf Holdings and managing director of a property company, allegedly accepted the money in return for proposing applicants for full membership.

He is accused of soliciting a loan of more than 25,000 US dollars and accepting two other loans of 12,500 US dollars in return for helping would-be members.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong was facing a severe egg shortage Monday after imports from China were halted because of the discovery of the chemical melamine in some eggs.

Supplies from China are believed to have fallen by 80 per cent in recent weeks after the discovery in October of the same chemical in eggs that caused a nationwide milk scare a month earlier.

Hong Kong  - Hong Kong stocks rose by 3.52 per cent Monday as investors reacted positively to a 600 billion-US-dollar economic stimulus package for the Chinese economy announced by Beijing.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index consolidated a 3 per cent rise in share prices on Friday with a 501.2-point rise to close the day at 14,744.63.

In early trading, the market soared by 5.5 per cent to break through the 15,000-point barrier before falling back later in the day. Turnover was 60.7 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.83 billion US dollars).