INTERNATIONAL racing.scmp.com SRacesOUTH CHINA MORNING POST SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2007 B RacingPost Operation Santa International ABSOLUTE CHAMPION DYLAN THOMAS MISS ANDRETTI viva Top tips High spirits pataca VENGEANCE OF RAIN Helping hand for Tin Shui Your 20-page guide to the Wai’s disadvantaged The Christmas cocktail WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS international races at Sha Tin young people that costs HK$533,000 WINNING WAYS: HEAR OUR EXPERTS’ NEWS AND TOP TIPS IN OUR PODCAST EVERY RACE DAY WWW.SCMP.COM/MULTIMEDIA A SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST PUBLICATION VOLUME LXIII NO. 341 December 9, 2007 B see live updates at www.scmp.com HK $8.00 Diplomat and wife turn out girl, 8 Couple give up child adopted 7 years ago ...................................................... and speaks Cantonese and English, said, citing the Social Welfare Barclay Crawford but not Korean. Department. A high-ranking diplomat and his wife The diplomat, who has a senior “Her adoptive mother, who had have given up to Hong Kong author- management role at a European con- been thought to be sterile, has since ities the daughter they adopted seven sulate in the city, yesterday said the had her own two children so they years ago in Korea when she was just child had been adopted by his family gave her up for adoption.” four months old. while he was based at his country’s The South Korean consulate con- The diplomat andhis wife handed embassy in South Korea. The adop- firmed it was aware of the situation the girl over to the Social Welfare tion had gone wrong, he said. and said it had been flooded with Lust fulfilled. Taiwanese director Ang Lee gestures film Lust, Caution won seven awards, including Department last year. The diplomat said the family was offers of help. to cast and crew members to join him on stage at the The case has prompted appeals to trying “hard to deal with it” and had Many in the community have best picture, best director and best actor. “I feel find new parents for the child among consulted experts. His wife was seek- expressed anger and bewilderment Golden Horse Awards ceremony in Taipei, where his greatly relieved,” said Lee. Photo: Reuters Full report Page 6 the Korean community in Hong ing therapy following the decision to at the treatment of the girl. Kong, and comes amid international give up the child. Inn Hae Morgan, who has been in debate about families adopting chil- “It’s just a very terrible trauma touch with the Social Welfare Depart- dren from other cultures. that everyone’s experiencing,” he ment, said the concern centred on An Irish couple caused a furore said. “I don’t have anything to say to the welfare of the child. when they returned a child to an the public. It is something we have to “We have been told she is well and Banks’ reserve ratio raised again Indonesian orphanage in 2005, say- live with. happy,” she said. ing the adoption did not work out. “My Foreign Ministry knows “It’s hard to understand what the Recently, a French charity sparked about my situation. I have also been circumstances would be that a child ...................................................... controversy with plans to take 103 in touch with the Hong Kong govern- who has been with a family for so on December 25 and was intended to Policymakers had signalled at the She said the bigger mainland Chloe Lai in Shanghai children from Chad in central Africa ment and they have been very helpful many years would be abandoned.” “strengthen liquidity management in conclusion last week of the annual banks were sheltered to some extent to France for adoption. to me and so has my own employer.” Social welfare sector legislator The mainland’s central bank yester- the banking system and curb exces- Central Economic Work Conference by their strong deposit-taking, but The Korean girl has been in foster The diplomat declined to say Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung said day raised the amount of cash banks sive growth of credit”, the People’s that they would tighten monetary smaller banks might be more seri- care with an expatriate family since whether his family was in touch with there would be issues with the child’s must hold in reserve for the 10th time Bank of China said on its website. policy next year. ously affected. being handed over to social workers the child. nationality and she might have to this year, and by 1 percentage point, The increase will withdraw 350 The central bank said its move Yi Xiangrong, a professor at the in Hong Kong. The diplomat and his “We are doing everything with the return to Korea before she could find double the previous increases and billion yuan from the financial was to carry out the conference’s Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ wife gave her up after having two chil- Hong Kong government and Social a new family. the biggest in four years. system. decision to tighten monetary policy. institute of finance and banking, said: dren of their own and the Social Wel- Welfare Department to find a solu- A spokesman for the Social Wel- The measure, the latest step The last time the central bank Jing Ulrich, China equities chair- “It is necessary to be more aggressive fare Department has been working to tion,” he said. “That’s as much as I fare Department said it would com- intended to rein in rapid economic raised the ratio by a full percentage man at JP Morgan Securities, said: after previous increases in the reserve find her a new permanent home. can tell you. We are trying our best.” ment on the case later. growth and curb speculation on point was in September 2003. Previ- “This move does not come as a sur- ratio failed to curb inflation and cool The South Korean consulate says A Korean magazine has twice Korean law does not permit adop- stocks and properties, means banks ous rises this year have been of 50 prise in view of the government’s the overheating economy.” she was not naturalised as a citizen of published appeals to Hong Kong- tive parents to return their children. must set aside 14.5 per cent of their basis points. concern over lending growth, and is He expected the central bank to her adoptive parents’ country and is based Koreans to find the girl a home. There is no similar law in Hong Kong. deposits – the highest reserve ratio An increase had been widely in line with the recently announced increase interest rates soon, since not a Hong Kong resident. This leaves “She was adopted by a … couple The Sunday Morning Post is not they have been required to meet expected given the mainland econo- tightening of monetary policy from negative real interest rates had creat- her residency status in the city in in January 2000, who were living in naming the family to protect the since 1987. my’s rapid expansion and accelerat- the ‘prudent’ approach followed in ed an excessive credit and asset doubt. The girl is attending school Korea at that time,” the magazine interests of the girl. The requirement will take effect ing inflation. recent years.” bubble. Sevens scrum lucky for some; many miss out ...................................................... The British businessmen were Rugby Football Union officials began Alvin Sallay among the first 50 people in the telling the late arrivals it was pointless A15-hour wait for tickets to the Hong 2,500-strong queue that snaked joining the queue. Kong Rugby Sevens next year was around the Hong Kong Stadium well The luckiest pair yesterday were worth it for out-of-town sporting fans before yesterday’s public sale of 5,000 buddies Andrew Roberston and Robert Smith and Mike Barker. tickets began at 11am. They knew Allan Learoyd, 2,499th and 2,500th in Sevens tickets safely in hand, they they would have to get in early. Hun- the queue. dashed to the airport to catch a flight dreds of others were caught cold and “I guess we are very lucky. We to Las Vegas for another sporting left disappointed. thought we had plenty of time,” said a event – the welterweight boxing Newcomer to Hong Kong Thea relieved Mr Learoyd, who has showdown between Ricky Hatton Rigby said: “My son plays mini-rugby watched the Sevens for 12 years. and Floyd Mayweather. for Hong Kong Football Club and as There were 1,000 fewer tickets “We have been in this queue since such we are assured of two tickets – available for the public this year. 8pm on Friday night. It was a long for me and my husband – and entry “There has been a significant night,” said Mr Smith after buying the for my son. But I need one more ticket The sign says it all for would-be growth in the local rugby commu- two tickets he was permitted for the for my daughter.” Sevens watchers. Photo: K. Y. Cheng nity. More people have joined our March 28-30 tournament. Simon Francis, another hopeful, clubs and we had to cater to them, “But it was worth turning up early said: “We have also got tickets the Sevens ... otherwise we might said union executive director Allan as we have to catch a flight at 2pm to through our rugby club. But I want to have to try overseas travel agents.” Payne. Still, he said clubs and the Las Vegas to watch the fight. But we get two more tickets for my parents, Both left disappointed despite public had got 60 per cent of tickets will be back for the Sevens.” who will be coming from England for arriving at 7am, half an hour after for the tournament.