HONG KONG (AP) - A flight attendant who has involved in a strike in January has been

fired for allegedly stealing food and reading material from a plane, Cathay Pacific

Airways said May 26.

Courtney Chong was found to be in possession of the items last week after arriving

in Singapore, said Nick Rhodes, Public Affairs Manager of the Hong Kong airline.

Chong, Deputy Head of the flight attendants' Union, was chief purser on the Cathay

Pacific flight, he said.

The dismissal came a week before union leadership elections. Rhodes said the timing

was "unfortunate," but denied there was any connection.