Hong Kong  - A Chinese woman passenger whose temper tantrum when she missed a flight from Hong Kong was watched by 5 million YouTube viewers has been given an apology and a free upgrade, the airline said Thursday.

An airline employee who filmed the middle-aged woman throwing herself on the floor in a three-minute screaming fit when she arrived at the boarding gate too late to board a flight to San Francisco has also been disciplined, Cathay Pacific said.

Hong Kong  - An internationally-renowned Chinese concert pianist accused of beating his wife walked free from a Hong Kong court Thursday as an assault charge against him was dropped.

Liu Shih-kun, 69, hailed as one of China's greatest pianists, was accused of injuring his 47-year-old wife in a scuffle at a music school he runs in Hong Kong in January.

At a hearing in Eastern Court Thursday, however, prosecutors said they were dropping the charge after examining in closer detail the statement submitted by Liu's wife after the incident.

Hong Kong  - The Hong Kong government was Thursday asking officials in Macau why it has refused entry to a number of people including academics, politicians and a journalist.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said the city government was "concerned" about the travel bans imposed by Macau and would seek an explanation from its Beijing-appointed leaders.

Hong Kong  - Two men have been arrested in Hong Kong for selling unregistered "electronic cigarettes" that promoters claim can help smokers quit the habit, health officials said Thursday.

The arrests came after Hong Kong's Department of Health found the devices which atomise nicotine into an aerosol with no burning involved on sale in a shop in the city's Sham Shui Po district.

The men, aged 52 and 60, were arrested in a raid Wednesday and were later released on bail and ordered to report back to police in May, a department spokesman said.

Officials seized atomisers and smoke cartridges which are widely touted on internet sites as a safe alternative to normal cigarettes.

Hong Kong  - Hong Kong shares ended a two-day losing streak Wednesday, rebounding 2.5 per cent on hopes of a new round of economic stimulus measures in China.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index climbed 297.27 points to end the day at 12,331.15. Turnover was 44.9 billion Hong Kong dollars (5.78 billion US dollars).

Wednesday's turnaround followed a dismal start to the week, which saw shares fall by 3.86 per cent Monday and 2.3 per cent Tuesday.

Hong Kong  - Migrant workers from factories in southern China will be allowed to visit Disneyland under a new scheme announced Wednesday allowing 10 million more Chinese visitors into Hong Kong.

However, with the theme park's entrance fees at 45 US dollars - a fortnight's wages for some Chinese factory workers - it is questionable how many of them will be able to afford the breaks.