Good morning,

Sze Yu’s got his end of term exams this week (the guy goes to Berkley, he’s like super smart and all that) so I’m covering. Let’s all wish him good luck!

Also if you’ve not already read it - I finally (after lots of personal chaos, followed by the site literally locking us out for a week) got our article on ReThink published! There’s more to come on that, as well as more coverage on different sustainability issues/startups. Watch this space.

~ Cyril

On Today’s Tide:

1. Breaking | Fire at the World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay sees hundreds evacuated from heavy smoke. 13 hospitalized.

2. COVID-19 | More Omicron

3. Elections | Etiquette: What to bring, what to wear, what to say

4. Events

Paid Readers also get:

1. Politics | Internet cleaning, Next Media Wind Up

2. LGBTQ+ | Ex-law maker on bail marries husband

3. F&B | Warnings against processed meat

Fire Fire at the World Trade Centre

A fire broke out around 12:30pm on Wednesday on the lower floors of the WTC in Causeway Bay. Some customers and workers of the offices, stores and restaurants in the high rise reported not hearing a fire alarm. As people realized what was happening, many tried to escape via the staircase but were unable due to thick smoke, choosing instead to await rescue on the 5th floor podium and the rooftop.

The lack of an alarm meant that many continued to carry on even when smoke filled the room. An office worker on the 39th floor said that they could smell smoke, but management said there was no need to evacuate. Colleagues went to investigate and found the lower floors already heavy with smoke, so they left via the fire escape.

In a live-stream with Stand News, a middle-aged woman said she had been having lunch at the Dragon King Restaurant on the 12th floor. When the smoke came in, the staff remained calm and made sure everyone paid before they could evacuate.

The lower floors are currently under renovation and the FSD said they were notified by workers that the fire alarm had to be temporarily turned off, but that it should have only affected the 1st to 5th floors where work was carried out. It is thought that the fire sparked from the second floor where the electrical metres are.

COVID news

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating one additional imported #COVID19 case which involves the #L452R mutant strain

news.gov.hk1 imported virus case detectedThe Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating one additional imported COVID-19 case which involves the L452R mutant strain.

9:11 AM ∙ Dec 15, 2021

Coronavirus in Hong Kong

• New cases: 1

• Total cases: 12,497

Omicron:

Couple of countries added to the all-exclusive A+ (not official name) list. Hong Kong itself has its 9th case. There are discussions about whether to move the UK up to A+ or even have a full out flight ban.

Returnees from A+ countries have to spend 7 days at Penny’s Bay before going to a quarantine hotel for 14 days, the finally home quarantine for another 7.

In contrast, travelers from normal class A countries can spend 21 days in a hotel before home quarantine for their final 7.

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Govt announces that in view of the detection of #Omicron cases, Algeria, Ecuador, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Trinidad & Tobago will be listed as Group A specified places from December 18 #COVID19

news.gov.hkMore arrival restrictions setThe Government announces that in view of the detection of Omicron cases, Algeria, Ecuador, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Trinidad & Tobago will be listed as Group A specified places from December 18.

12:15 PM ∙ Dec 15, 2021

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Election Etiquette

So, you want to go vote in this Sunday’s elections? If you want to be the belle of the …election hall… you better listen up because this year’s LegCo elections are super special and you need to be up to date with all the latest know-how to know-how to vote.

• What to bring:

Your ID.

Yeah that’s it. Nice! Oh, but it has to be your original one - no photocopies.

Your polling card isn’t actually required, but does confirm your right to vote. If for whatever reason you’re unable to access your polling card, you can actually find your constiency/voting station/other details on the gov elector search.

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The #ElectoralAffairsCommission clarifies that electors are only required to bring their original Hong Kong identity card in order to cast their votes in the 2021 #LegislativeCouncilGeneralElection

news.gov.hkOriginal ID required for votingThe Electoral Affairs Commission clarifies that electors are only required to bring their original Hong Kong identity card in order to cast their votes in the 2021 Legislative Council General Election.

3:35 PM ∙ Dec 15, 2021

• What to wear:

Worried your election suit may still be at the cleaners? Trying to impress the cute guy counting ballots?

Well, no political slogans. But you can ask for a jacket to cover your ‘Hong Kong Add Oil’ shirt. This is for political neutrality inside polling stations.

“Voting itself is a political action, but it’s confidential…and you cannot affect others. If you want to influence others, you cannot do so in the polling stations or no-canvassing zones”

Barnabus ‘I’ll count faster this time’ Fung - Chairman of the EAC

Yellow masks? Sure! Unless you’re polling staff - then no, stay neutral.

• What to say:

Or rather, what not to say. You can vote for whoever you want, but you can’t tell people not to vote, Security Secretary Chris Tang stressed again. He said that some people abroad have been asking those in Hong Kong to boycott or cast blank votes. Tang said these could be more serious breaches than normal elections laws.

Two more were also arrested yesterday for sharing online posts asking people to boycott. Both are currently on bail. There have currently been 8 arrests for incitement to not vote.

Events / Exhibitions etc

We want to make sure that what we advertise is interesting for our readers, so if you go to an event that you saw here, let us know by taking a selfie and tagging us on Twitter or Instagram ( both @harbourtimes ).

We’ll throw in a free month of Paid High Tide for yourself or a friend!

Events from our partners

• Women of Hong Kong Meet & Greet 2

TONIGHT!

To celebrate 3000 sign-ups, Women of Hong Kong are taking over the Daily Tot in Central for our second Meet and Greet !Start the Christmas season with new connections and friendships - for all members! Limited spaces.

• This German Market had us at free goodie bags 👀

On the days leading up to Christmas, Asia Society HK’s German Christmas Market will feature market stalls, creative workshops, live performances, Christmas movies, Christmas carols and sing-alongs — even an appearance from the Jolly Old Man himself, Santa!

For the full schedule of workshops and other festivities, follow the link to attend this free event.

• Humour along my Hairline - Vivek Mahbubani's solo English show

Looking for something funny and fishy this Christmas? Bilingual comedian Vivek Mahbubani’s latest show at Ocean Park is sure to drown you with laughter. Also he may run out of hair half way.

“It's the same venue that big names like Jim Jeffries have performed in and this time I'm using the ticking timebomb that is my receding hairline as a reason to do my solo show so people can at least one day say "I saw him when he was still hairy!"

Vivek ‘yeah I guess that’s pretty funny’ Mahbubani

Tickets available here.

Paid readers have access to an exclusive 20% off discount code.

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