Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from December 2002

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from December 2002

2002/12/01 Sun -- CEP News.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) Today is Sunday, Dec. 1, or the 27th day of the tenth month of the Year of the Horse according to the lunar calendar. Following is a list of important events that have occurred on...

TAIWAN NEWS HEADLINES.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Sunday are as follows: @The China Times: Defendant of Liu corruption scandal said that former President Lee Teng-hui consented to...

STOCK EXCHANGES OF TAIWAN AND MONGOLIA TO SIGN MEMORANDUM.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) The stock exchanges of Taiwan (TAIEX) and Mongolia (MSE) will sign a memorandum of understanding Tuesday to strengthen cooperation in market information, TAIEX sources said Sunday....

MOFA PLANS FOR HIGH-LEVEL VISITS ABROAD THIS YEAR: MINISTER.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) N'Djamena, Chad, Nov. 30 (CNA) It is possible that the president and vice president of the Republic of China will make state visits abroad to ROC's allied countries this year, said ROC Minister of...

TAIWAN MUST USE ECONOMICS TO BETTER CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS: SIEW.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Kaohsiung, Dec. 1 (CNA) The head of an economic think-tank on Sunday urged the government to address problems surrounding the development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations by means of economic methods...

PRESIDENT CHEN SIGNS WORLD AIDS DAY DECLARATION.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian signed a World AIDS Day declaration Sunday, proclaiming the government's determination to devote itself to preventing the spread of the deadly disease. ...

LIKE FATHER, UNLIKE SON FOR HSING-CHIH AND DAD WANG TO.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Kaohsiung, Dec. 1 (CNA) Father and son meet every week, dining amicably and talking pleasantly, except that they never touch on "sensitive" topics such as politics and the workers' movement. Wang...

CREDIT UNIONS ARE DIFFERENT FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: CHEN.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Kaohsiung, Dec. 1 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said in Kaohsiung Sunday that credit unions of the farmers' and fishermen's associations are different from ordinary financial institutions. ...

2ND CEC-SPONSORED MA-LEE POLITICAL DEBATE TELEVISED SUNDAY.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) The second Central Election Commission-sponsored political debate between the two candidates for mayor of Taipei City was broadcast Sunday on Taiwan Television...

DOMINICAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN TAIPEI FOR 3-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) Dominican President Hipolito Mejia Dominguez, accompanied by a 17-member entourage, arrived in Taipei Sunday for a three-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral cooperative...

ROC, CHAD TO ISSUE STAMPS TO COMMEMORATE INAUGURATION OF BRIDGE.
December 1, 2002... (From Central News Agency (Taiwan)) N'Djamena, Dec. 1 (CNA) The Republic of China and Chad will issue stamps to commemorate Sunday's inauguration of the Unity Bridge and Taiwan Boulevard, which has been constructed with assistance from...

Sun: Three on a rise.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Shlomo Greenberg I'd like to get one thing off my chest now why did three minor shares rise last Friday? You probably didn't notice, but Silicom (Nasdaq: SILCF) rose 62% on exceptionally large (for...

Teva to lease 6,000 sq.m. in City Gate at $16-18 per sqm.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Elazar Levin Teva (Nasdaq: TEVA) is negotiating with potential lessees to lease 6,000 sq.m. of offices in the City Gate Tower in the Ramat Gan Diamond Exchange Compound. Estimates are that the...

Avraham Rubinstein leases Tel Aviv offices at $17.5 per sqm.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Elazar Levin Avraham Rubinstein and Co. Building has leased 240 sq.m. on the 29th floor of Beit Rubinstein, near the Beit Ma'ariv junction, to the Leshem-Ron-Vardi law firm. Leshem-Ron-Vardi will...

Cinema City rents 8,000 sqm from TNUVA near Glilot junction.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Elazar Levin A Dutch company, owned by Israeli and French developers, has rented 8,000 sq.m. on the second floor of the Rav Mecher Building near the Glilot junction from TNUVA Co-Op for Marketing of...

Super-Sol rents 830 sqm in Rishon LeZion from Adri at 2.6%.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Elazar Levin Super Sol (NYSE: SAE) has rented an 830-sq.m. store in a shopping center being constructed on Hakukiya St. in the Neve Hadarim neighborhood in eastern Rishon LeZion by Adri-El...

Apartments sold and rented.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Elazar Levin Tel Aviv and central region Second hand apartments sold Ramat Hasharon: A house on a 500-sq.m plot in the western part of town sold for $850,000 (Miri Ofek). Tohnit Lamed:...

Matav amends Q3 report; turns profit into loss.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Globes correspondent Matav-Cable Systems Media (Nasdaq: MATV), one if Israel's three cable TV providers, announced on Thursday that it had decided to cancel the recognition in its third quarter...

FedEx orders 40,000 hand-held terminals from Motorola.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Boaz Gilmore US shipping giant Federal Express (FedEx) (NYSE: FDX) has ordered 40,000 advanced hand-held terminals from Motorola (NYSE: MOT), and will begin using them next year. The deal is worth...

Mitzna continues talks on passing budget.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Zvi Lavi Labor Party chairman Amram Mitzna has directed former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development MK Shalom Simhon (Labor) to reach an understanding that will enable the Labor Party to...

Formula Systems remains in the black in Q3.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Globes correspondent IT solutions investor Formula Systems (Nasdaq: FORTY) announced on Friday its third consecutive quarter of profits. Herzliya-based Formula said net profit for the third...

Shekel flat in options trade.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Avi Weinreb The shekel was flat against the dollar in derivatives trading this morning, as investors saw little effect from Thursday's terror attacks and continued support from high domestic...

IDB Holdings lost NIS 161m in third quarter.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Kobi Yeshayahu Shortly before the transfer of control to the Nochi Dankner group, IDB Holdings today reported a NIS 161 million loss for the third quarter, compared with a NIS 286 million loss in...

Israeli shares November yield outdoes Nasdaq average.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Merav Ankori November was one of the best months this year on US stock exchanges, according to a review published today by Meitav Securities and Investments. Meitav's figures indicate that the...

Frutarom UK acquires flavor and fragrance plant for $2m.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Globes correspondent Electrochemical Industries (Frutarom) (AMEX: EIL) today announced that subsidiary Frutarom (UK) Ltd. acquired from British company Rayner & Co., an activity that develops,...

Start-up CogniTens raising $4-5m.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Boaz Gilmore Sources inform ''Globes'' that Israeli start-up CogniTens is in the advanced stages of a $4-5 million fundraising round. The company, which develops and markets non-contact 3D...

Africa-Israel buys Zara Israel franchise for NIS 57m.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Merav Ankori Africa-Israel Investments announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire, via the Generique group, the Zara fashion franchise in Israel for NIS 57 million. Africa-Israel...

Cable TV merger to be signed this week.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Efi Landau The merger agreement between the cable television companies is expected to be signed this week. The sides have reached agreement on all matters that were in dispute. Sources inform...

Shikun Ovdim, FAIRE Fund, Yuval-Alon, Ben-Yakar bid for Rubanenko plots in Petah Tikva.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Elazar Levin Shikun Ovdim, the FAIRE Fund (First American-Israel Real Estate Fund), Yuval-Alon Building, and the Ben-Yakar family last week offered to buy plots in Petah Tikva and Poland belonging...

Migdal retracts sale of Israel Land Development building.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Elazar Levin Migdal Insurance has reversed its decision to exercise its option to sell the former Hamagen House, now occupied by Israel Land Insurance, to the current tenant. Israeli Land...

IMI agrees with Finance Ministry on recovery plan.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Dror Marom In talks at the end of last week between Israel Military Industries (IMI) management, the Ministry of Finance, and the company workers, a breakthrough was achieved that will enable a new...

Sun: December off on the right foot.
December 1, 2002... (From Israel Business Arena) Byline: Yaron Friedman The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) rose today. The Tel Aviv 25 index closed up 0.98% at 368.75 points, the Tel Aviv 100 index rose 0.92% to 362.37 points, and the Tel-Tech 15 index...

Bankrupt firms learn from past mistakes.
December 1, 2002... (From The Star (Malaysia)) AFTER the collapse two years ago of the company he was working for, Kazuharu Takeda, 55, faced what he describes as an 'empty future' and risked being one more addition to Japan's rising number of jobless people....

Tarnished image leaves its mark.
December 1, 2002... (From The Star (Malaysia)) RECENTLY, a foreign friend and I received a rebuff: 'What are you doing here? Show some respect to the people in charge.' In these days when companies are talking about good customer-relations, branding and...

Slovenia: Ruling party to put forward finance minister for prime minister.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Following the announcement that current Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek has secured enough votes to be elected new Slovene president, the chairman of the Liberal Democracy council, Gregor Golobic,...

Hungarian spokesman explains premier's presence at Romanian reception.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy also attended a reception held on Romania's national holiday in Budapest. [On 1 December, Romanians celebrate...

President Fox hails Mexico's progress since he took office two years ago.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Mexico City, 30 November: President Vicente Fox has said that Mexico "is moving forwards and is doing so assuredly thanks to three central ideas: democratic governance, social inclusion and an...

Southern Serbia Albanians accuse minister of inciting new conflict.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prishtina [Pristina], 30 November: LPD [Movement for Democratic Progress] Chairman Jonuz Musliu today accused Serbian Deputy Prime Minister [Nebojsa Covic] of igniting a new conflict in the...

Belarus sends low-level delegation to NATO meeting.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Minsk, 1 December: Lt-Col Yuryy Zaytsaw, Belarus's military representative to NATO, and Lt-Col Dzmitryy Kazharski, a liaison officer for the Partnership for Peace programme, will attend a session...

Exit polls results show Slovene capital to get new mayor.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) According to the results of the exit polls, Danica Simsic, a candidate of the United List of Social Democrats for mayor of Ljubljana, has gained 56.8 per cent of votes in today's runoff mayoral...

Belarusian opposition party keen on NATO, EU.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Minsk, 1 December: Today in Minsk, delegates at the sixth convention of the Belarusian People's Front (BPF) adopted a new platform reaffirming the party's course toward the European Union and...

Feature examines continuing spread of HIV/AIDS in Caribbean.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Corporation (CMC) news agency on 30 November Bridgetown, Barbados: New research findings released this week by UNAIDS and supported by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (Carec) show that...

Venezuela's Chavez tells Ecuadoran TV of "great revolution" in Latin America.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) November Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said today in Quito that a revolution against poverty and social inequality is starting in Latin America. "This is the time of the people. I...

Slovenia: Runoff election turnout almost 65 per cent - unofficial results.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Today, voter turnout was lower than three weeks ago [during first ballot on 10 November]. According to the latest information [provided by the state election commission], it was 64.83 per...

Voters in Slovenia mostly pleased with presidential elections results.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Announcer] We have gathered the first voters' reactions to the results of the presidential elections on the streets of Ljubljana, Koper and Maribor. [Unidentified male voter] This is not...

Serbian party, refugee group sign agreement to safeguard Serb interests.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Belgrade, 1 December: The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Community of Serbs from Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina today signed an agreement on long-term cooperation and the establishment...

Serbian minister questions foreign debt servicing by future state.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) debts" by Serbian newspaper Glas javnosti on 27 November Belgrade - Although the manner of electing the members of parliament of the future union of Serbia and Montenegro is the key issue in...

Macedonian military delegation visits Afghanistan.
December 1, 2002... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Kabul, 1 December: A Macedonian military delegation, led by Brigadier General Dragan Andreski, arrived in Kabul early Sunday [1 December] to visit two Macedonian officers, who are part of the...

Qatari Minister visits Saudi Arabia.
December 1, 2002... (From Al Bawaba) Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmad bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud arrived in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on Sunday, according to SPA news agency. At King Abdulaziz International Airport, he was received...

Saudi King congratulates United Arab Emirates President.
December 1, 2002... (From Al Bawaba) Saudi Arabian King Fahd bin Abdulaziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahayan, President of the United Arab Emirates on the occasion of his country's national day. On his own behalf,...

Palestinian President sends message to Emir of Qatar.
December 1, 2002... (From Al Bawaba) Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has received a verbal message from Palestinian President Yasser Arafat regarding the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Saudi Press Agency...

Arab League Secretary General, Palestinian Minister meet in Cairo.
December 1, 2002... (From Al Bawaba) Secretary General of the Arab League Amre Mousa met in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday with Palestinian Minister of Local Rule Sa'eb Oreiqat, who is currently paying a visit to Egypt. SPA news agency reported...

Syrian Agriculture Minister receives UN official for talks.
December 1, 2002... (From Al Bawaba) Syria's Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Nourriddin Mona received in the capital of Damascus Sunday the Resident Representative of the UN Development Program Tawfeek Ben Amara. According to SANA news agency,...

Another fire erupts in Moroccan jail.
December 1, 2002... (From Al Bawaba) A fire broke out Friday evening in the Sidi Moussa Jail of Al-Jadida, which was the scene earlier this month of a tragic fire that killed 50 inmates and wounded 40 others. The fire was immediately controlled and no...

Yemeni-Bahraini Joint Committee to convene soon.
December 1, 2002... (From Al Bawaba) Yemen's Minister of Planning and Development Ahmed Mohammed Sufan is to lead Yemen's delegation in the first round of the Yemeni-Bahraini joint ministerial committee, to be held at the end of this month, according to SABA,...

200 AIDS SUFFERERS GET CHEAP DRUGS.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Jakarta, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - Indonesia in 2002 received HIV/AIDS drugs at low prices from an international donor foundation for 200 people infected with the deadly disease, Director General...

BINTANG KEJORA' FLAG IN PAPUA HAULED DOWN.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Jayapura, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - The Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag which was hoisted on Sunday morning at the house of the assassinated chairman of the Papua Presidium Council, Theys Hiyo...

GOVT. CALLED TO BE FIRM AGAINST PAPUA INDEPENDENCE.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Jakarta, Dec. 1 (ANTARA)-- The Indonesian government has been called upon to be firm in prohibiting the planned Independence Day celebrations in both Papua and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)...

GOVT DISBURSES RP1.3 TRILLION IN FERTILIZER SUBSIDY.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Jakarta, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - The government in fiscal 2003 will again allocate its fertilizer subsidy of Rp1.315 trillion after for many years this facility has been lifted. Director...

IBRA EXTENDS SCHEDULE ON INVESTMENT ASSET SALES PROGRAM.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Jakarta, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) and Holdiko Perkasa altered the Investment Asset Sales Program (PPAI) schedule to give more time to the investor...

INDONESIA CONTROLS 75 PCT OF WORLD RUBBER.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Bengkulu, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - Indonesia along with Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam controlled some 75 percent of the world's rubber output. "We will continue boosting our rubber...

INDON SOLDIER, GAM REBEL KILLED IN ACEH SHOOT-OUT.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Banda Aceh, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - An Indonesian soldier and a member of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were killed in an armed contact in the Seulimeum hinterland, Aceh Besar district,...

JAPANESE TRAVEL AGENCIES OBSERVE BALI'S SECURITY SITUATION.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Denpasar, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - Some 91 Japanese travel agencies grouped in the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) have again visited the Indonesian tourist resort island of Bali to...

PRESIDENT MEGAWATI AGREES ALLOWANCE FOR EX. E.TIMOR LEGISLATORS.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Kupang, E. Nusa Tenggara, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - President Megawati Soekarnoputri has agreed to provide financial allowance to former members of the East Timor regional legislature (DPRD). ...

RADICALISM AND MILITANCY AREN'T NATURE OF INDON MOSLEMS, SAYS ANALYST.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Canberra, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - A noted Indonesianist of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Prof. Dr. David Reeve, has said that the religious radicalism and militancy as might have...

SEPARISTS HOIST "MORNING STAR" FLAG.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Jayapura, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - A separatist group of local people in Papua province commemorated the annual, self-proclaimed Papua independence day on Sunday in a very modest way hoisting its...

SUNDAY'S HEADLINES IN MAJOR INDONESIAN DAILIES.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) LIFE GOES ON FOR HIV-INFECTED PEOPLE What would you feel the moment you were told that you had contracted HIV ? "At first, nothing I was still on detox in a crazy camp full of...

TOURISM MINISTRY TO OPEN REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES ABROAD.
December 1, 2002... (From Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency) Jakarta, Dec 1 (ANTARA) - The Office of the State Minister of Culture and Tourism planned to open representative offices in Japan, Australia and in a European country, a spokesman for the...

Tycoons, judges and bankers among patrons.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Alex Lo and Patsy Moy The Luk Yu Tea House hitman could not have chosen a more conspicuous place to carry out the killing. The murder is guaranteed to be reported around the world because...

SAR exporter in Paraguay terror probe fights to clear his name.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: niall.fraser@scmp.com Editorial - Page 8 Niall Fraser A Hong Kong exporter at the centre of an anti-terrorism probe in Latin America is battling to clear his name of allegations that he is...

Diners flee teahouse execution Gunman pays for his breakfast before calmly shooting wealthy businessman in the head.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Patsy Moy and Alex Lo A wealthy businessman was shot dead in an apparent contract killing yesterday as he ate breakfast during the morning rush hour in Hong Kong's most famous teahouse. ...

Business Briefs.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Rest of world also a mess Salisbury (Dec 3): Britain offers immigrants staggering inflation, high unemployment, living conditions "that would make a rat weep" - and mixed race bus queues. The United...

Business Briefs.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Reader seeks work facts December 5: Sir, - I should be very grateful if you or some of your readers could give me any information regarding the labour market in New Zealand or for that matter tell me...

Deficit leap brings new civil service pay warning Deficit leap spurs warning on salaries.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: May Sin-mi Hon The civil service chief has warned of possible pay cuts after the latest figures revealed the budget deficit reached $72.4 billion for the first seven months of the financial...

Business Briefs.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) MONDAY, DECEMBER 2: Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung is to brief Financial Affairs panel legislators on Hong Kong's latest economic situation, after the third-quarter GDP announcement. TUESDAY,...

Human rights reputation at stake.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Liana Cafolla Hong Kong must be vigilant over its international human rights reputation in the wake of an appeal court ruling overturning the decision to deport the Sri Lankan refugee, a human...

Retiring Democrat chief fires parting shot at Tung for poor leadership.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: May Sin-mi Hon On the eve of his last day in the post, Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming took a parting shot at Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa. He criticised Mr Tung for failing...

Business Briefs.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) (It is) every American's worst financial nightmare multiplied tens of thousands of times. James Comey (above), prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, discussing a credit fraud case that has...

Lessons from an ad man who's come clean.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: BOOK MARK Creative Leaps 10 lessons in effective advertising inspired at Saatchi & Saatchi By Michael Newman Published by John Wiley & Sons Not everybody will find Creative Leaps appealing - but...

Business Briefs.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) US ports dispute comes to a close Negotiators for United States west coast dock workers reached a six-year contract agreement with shipping employers last week, ending months of acrimony that resulted in...

China's interest rates on hold for next year.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Mark O'Neill in Beijing The director of the research department of China's central bank says it will keep yuan interest rates unchanged next year and angrily denies China is exporting deflation...

Victim of torture recalls his ordeal.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) A Sri Lankan refugee and torture victim, who last week won a court victory against a government order to deport him, has spoken publicly about his ordeal for the first time. The Tamil fisherman, who...

A price on the head of folk using small change.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) I read with interest your article ("Penny trouble", Sunday Money, November 24) in which a woman was fined HK$10, some 50 years ago, for being in possession of small coins in excess of reasonable...

Call for audit `policemen' to lift confidence.
December 1, 2002... (From South China Morning Post) Byline: Mukul Munish Audit firms should appoint an independent oversight board to gain the confidence of market regulators and clients, and comply with corporate governance issues that have arisen since...