🌊 British judges leave Hong Kong's highest court
🌊 British judges leave Hong Kong's highest court
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On Today’s Tide
National Security Law | Two senior British judges resign, citing the national security law.
COVID-19 | Woman fails to file an appeal against vaccine passes.
CE Carrie Lam seen packing up COVID-19 kits.
People with allergies need not fear the jab.
And more!
Events and Deals | See Hong Kong past and present in this virtual tour!
Behind the paywall:
Government | Residency requirement changes for eligible police force applicants.
International | Hongkongers leaving for Canada reach height of post-handover levels.
Politics | Distribution of $1,000 in electricity subsidies coming in June.
Transport | Which of Cathay’s rerouted flight path is now the looooongest in the world?
UK judges resign over the security law
National Security Law
Two judges from Britain who served in the Court of Final Appeal have tendered their resignations over the city’s national security law. The non-permanent judges, Robert Reed and Patrick Hodge, submitted their resignations with immediate effect.
Reed said that the security law has made it such that they feel unable to practice law in Hong Kong’s court:
"I have concluded, in agreement with the government, that the judges of the Supreme Court cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom, and freedom of expression."
— Robert Reed
The British government has backed this decision; British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss agreed that “it is no longer tenable for British judges to sit on Hong Kong's leading court, and would risk legitimising oppression”.
Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Andrew Cheung noted their leave “with regret”. Chief Executive Carrie Lam “vehemently refutes” the reasoning behind their departure:
"We have no choice but acquiesced in the two eminent judges' decision to resign from the CFA following the UK Government's decision to discontinue an agreement that has been respected and has served both the Hong Kong and UK interests well for years, but we must vehemently refute any unfounded allegations that the judges' resignations have anything to do with the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) or the exercise of freedom of speech and political freedom in Hong Kong."
— Chief Executive Carrie Lam
Appeal against vaccine pass “failed to state any proper ground”
COVID-19
A woman’s attempt to file an appeal against Hong Kong’s vaccine pass was unsuccessful. In her appeal, the woman (who is unvaccinated) complained that she lost job opportunities and lost her “easy access to affordable food and daily necessities”. The judge ruled that her complaints were “one of inconvenience”, and didn’t think “access to wet markets or supermarkets can arguably be described as basic rights.”
New cases: 6,981 (2,994 PCR tests, 3,987 RATs)
Deaths: 135
Total cases: 1,150,769
Total deaths: 7,706
Lockdown updates
103 infections were found in three buildings after overnight lockdowns.
Other COVID-19 updates
Yesterday is the first time in five weeks that new COVID-19 cases dropped below 7,000.
COVID vaccines are safe for people with allergies, according to the Hong Kong Allergy Association.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam was seen
working hard on her PR imagepacking anti-epidemic kits full of rapid tests, masks, and Chinese medicine at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.Testing is required for people who have been to 20 specified places for more than two hours between 17-30 March (see the Annex for details).
Events and Deals
Support Harbour Times, our friends and partners by attending these events! Let everyone know who sent you by tagging @harbourtimes
Recovery, Resilience, Resurgence Virtual Tour
The exhibition featuring “Thirty Years of Hong Kong Photographs” has been extended until 6 June. You can view the virtual tour on YouTube since social distancing and things have been pretty tricky in Hong Kong lately. Enjoy this exhibit from the comfort of your home!
10% off the Cellar: La Cabane x Harbour Times
Our friends over at La Cabane have kindly given all High Tide subscribers 10% off everything on their online store – high-quality wines, cheeses and wines-and-cheeses accessories.
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