Hong Kong - Hong Kong's flagship airline Cathay Pacific Wednesday released disappointing passenger figures and warned that the outlook for the industry was "challenging."

The airline's passenger figures combined with sister airline Dragonair for October 2008 were up 2.6 per cent compared to the same month in 2007, however, capacity over the same period grew 11.6 per cent.

The amount of cargo and mail carried over the course of the month, was down 7.4 per cent to 114,466 tons compared to the same month last year, Cathay Pacific announced.

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.