The contractor prosecuted by the Buildings Department for the fatal To Kwa Wan building collapse was convicted by Kowloon City Magistracy today.

The defendant was employed by the building owner to conduct repairs and remove unauthorised works, but he was not a registered contractor under the Buildings Ordinance.

The building on Ma Tau Wai Road collapsed on January 29, 2010, when the defendant was working on the premises. Four people were killed.

The department investigated the incident, and found the defendant conducted the works in an unsafe manner.

It said all building works, other than exempted works, must be conducted by prescribed registered contractors.

Sentencing was adjourned to March 6.

Commissioner of Police Andy Tsang has signed an agreement with the New Zealand Police to enhance bilateral co-operation in combating transnational crimes.

The deal was signed yesterday, during Mr Tsang's four-day visit to New Zealand.

He signed it with New Zealand Police Commissioner Peter Marshall at the National Police Headquarters in Wellington.

It sets out the framework for co-operation between the two forces in tackling transnational crimes, and also bolsters their partnership in capability building and professional development.

Mr Tsang's delegation visited other police facilities in the capital, before going to Christchurch to study the emergency response adopted during the major earthquake that hit the city in February 2011.

They will return to Hong Kong on February 21.

Here's the story from the South China Morning Post. So much for Xi Jinping's call for the Party to tolerate "sharp criticism".

The news today is that China has rejected – or more accurately, purported to reject – the Philippines' attempt to resolve a dispute over sovereignty (over the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea) through arbitration under the UN Convention…