Malpractice leads to suspension

The Dental Council of Hong Kong on Wednesday suspended for a month the license of a dentist who damaged the lip nerves of a patient during a dental implantation.

Tse Cheuk-keung earlier admitted to four counts of professional misconduct in connection with the 2008 surgery, after which a woman patient complained of numbness in her lower lip, leading to difficulty holding food or drink in her mouth. The council found Tse failed to explain the risks of the dental implant procedures in sufficient detail to the patient. An expert also testified that the dental implant post used by Tse was 10 mm long, when similar procedures usually entail a 7 mm post. Tse argued dentists believed longer posts to be safer at the time. His defense counsel also pointed out that Tse has performed hundreds of dental implantation surgeries but this was the first time anyone had filed a complaint against him.

Agents mostly follow EAA rule

The Estate Agents Authority (EAA) discovered 31 cases of non-compliance by real estate agents, in connection with disclosure of saleable floor areas of second hand residential properties. There were also six complaints filed over the issue. The figures apply to the period from Jan 1 to Jan 18. The new requirement also stipulates that the per-square-foot property price provided to clients must be calculated on the basis of saleable area.

The EAA conducted checks at around 350 estate agency shops and performed 4,700 checks of newspapers and online advertisements since the new requirement came into effect. It found the trade had generally complied with the new requirement.

'Evidence hard to gather'

Fifteen of the 77 suspected cruelty to animals cases in the first nine months of last year have been successfully prosecuted, said Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man on Wednesday.

In response to a legislator's enquiry, Ko said that most of the animals involved are stray cats and dogs found in secluded locations. As a result, law enforcement officers invariably encounter greater difficulties collecting and adducing evidence.

Ko said that a working group, including members from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong), noted that the level of penalty imposed by the court is generally higher than what used to be applied prior to the amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance in 2006. A sentence of up to six months imprisonment has been typical upon conviction.

Good Samaritan cabbie commended

Six taxi drivers who made special efforts to return properties to forgetful passengers were honored at Wednesday's Taxi Driver Commendation Scheme Prize Presentation Ceremony.

One driver returned a camera containing important photos by looking for the owner through radio stations. Another cabbie, upon discovering a passenger's phone number in a wallet left in his taxi, got into contact with the passenger and delivered the wallet to the passenger's home. The scheme, organized by the Department of Transport Quality Taxi Services Steering Committee, also commended another 300 taxi drivers who tried to return lost properties.

China Daily

(HK Edition 01/24/2013 page1)