Hong Kong  - The number of billionaires in Hong Kong has plunged by more than 50 per cent in the past year as the superwealthy are hammered by the global economic downturn, a survey found Thursday.

There were 19 US-dollar billionaires at the beginning of 2009 compared with 40 at the same time last year, the annual "rich list" compiled by Forbes Asia magazine found.

Hong Kong  - A wild boar was shot dead by police in Hong Kong Wednesday to stop it from attacking residents in one of the city's high-rise apartment estates.

Marksmen were called when officers failed to disable the animal with tranquilizer darts, after it was seen lurking in thick bushes near the housing block in the built-up Tuen Mun district.

A police spokesman said the boar was killed because of concerns for safety of the residents.

Hong Kong  - Hong Kong stocks ended a two-day losing run Wednesday to climb by more than 2 per cent, ending the day back above the 13,000-point mark.

After losses of nearly 3 per cent on Monday and 0.7 per cent Tuesday, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 287 points to end the day at 13,063.89.

The closing figure was 2.25 per cent higher than Tuesday's close. Turnover was a relatively low 36.4 billion Hong Kong dollars (4.69 billion US dollars).

Hong Kong - Hong Kong's struggling Disneyland theme park confirmed Wednesday that it is pushing up its weekday admission prices by almost 20 per cent despite the economic slowdown.

Weekday admission to the park is to rise beginning Monday from 295 to 350 Hong Kong dollars (38 to 45 US dollars) for adults and from 210 to 250 Hong Kong dollars for children.

The higher prices previously only applied to visitors who went to the 3-and-a-half-year-old, 3.5-billion-US-dollar theme park on weekends and public holidays.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong stocks fell by more than 3 pe

Hong Kong, Feb 2 : Cops are probing the case of a 12-year-old boy who posted pictures of his genitalia on an adult Internet forum in an attempt to seek sexual services.

According to the reports, the Form One student from the New Territories posted his pics on January 23 under the names "Leung Chai" (Little Leung) and "Chui Shui Ho"
(Braggy Ho) on the adult forum, KYO!

The student, who claims to be a Christian, wrote that he wanted to make money through sexual services with females between the ages of 10 and 45.

He offered 450 HK dollars to "make love".

The boy also included a breakdown of sexual services he wanted, along with his instant-messaging contact information.