Talking points

Lawmakers resume discussions on the government's plan to donated HK$100 million to earthquake relief efforts in Sichuan. The Legislative Council's Finance Committee failed to reach a vote when it met to debate the idea last week. The donation plan has proved controversial due to concerns about official corruption on the mainland and how the city's donations in the wake of the 2008 earthquake were handled.

Poultry markets around Guangdong begin closing for thorough cleaning amid concerns about the growing threat of H7N9 bird flu. Wet markets across the province will take turns to close until Sunday. The provincial health department said the risk of cases of human infection with H7N9 was getting higher, following the discovery of suspected samples of the virus in a Dongguan market and human bird flu cases in three neighbouring provinces.