Hong Kong - Two hungry sisters, aged seven and 10, dialed police after being left home alone in the Choi Hung area of the city, a media report said Saturday.

Police later arrested their father, 38, for suspected child abuse, the South China Morning Post said.

The two girls were taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital for examination although they showed no signs of injury.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong shares surged on the back of falling oil
prices Wednesday with the benchmark Hang Seng index climbing above
23,000 points for the first time in five weeks to end 2.69 per cent up
at 23,134.5.

Confidence was also buoyed by better than expected results from the United States banking sector.

Shares worth some 75.76 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.71 billion dollars) were traded.

Cathay Pacific Airways was the biggest gainer among Hang Seng
constituent stocks, rising 6.25 per cent to end at 15.64 Hong Kong
dollars. Analysts said lower oil prices would ease pressure on the
airline's operating costs.

Banking stocks showed renewed vigour with the Bank of East Asia

Hong Kong - Relief supplies intended for the victims of May's devastating Sichuan earthquake were left sitting at Hong Kong's port in a bureaucratic wrangle with Chinese authorities, a media report said Wednesday.

The aid, comprising 1,000 tins of baby milk powder, toothpaste, brushes, shampoo, clothing and toys, was originally due to be flown to Chengdu in Sichuan via Shenzhen airport in southern China, the South China Morning Post said.

Hong Kong  - Banking stocks led a resurgence in share prices Monday after the benchmark Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rose 3.1 per cent to post its largest single-day gain since early April. The index closed 658.7 points up at 22,532.9, the highest level since June 25.

HSBC Holdings led the charge, closing 4 per cent up at 124.80 Hong Kong dollars (16 dollars). This followed reports the bank has held talks with a Chinese state-controlled investment fund about a possible investment deal.

The Bank of East Asia rose 3.04 per cent to end the day at 37.40 Hong Kong dollars.

Property stocks also made significant gains after government figures showed the number of homes on the market fell to a record low in the first half of this year.

Hong Kong - Labour agencies in Indonesia have stopped recruiting domestic workers for employment in Hong Kong because of confusion over plans by the government to suspend a training tax, a media report said Monday. 

At least seven foreign domestic helpers were dismissed since the government decided to suspend the levy from September 1, the South China Morning Post said. 

The government had yet to release details of its plans to suspend the 9,600 Hong Kong dollar (1,230 dollar) charge as part of a package of measures against inflation.