🌊 Free Tide: Journalists and artists leave HK

Full-day classes unlikely to resume by September

Good morning

There’s a cat photo in today’s Paid Tide. I thought that was important to mention.

~ Kyna

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HK Departures

Journalist Steve Vines has left for the UK, fearing the “white terror” sweeping through the city as the possibility of things getting better in the near future is “simply non-existent”. Vines formerly worked for RTHK and the Hong Kong Free Press.

He says that journalism is now an incredibly high-risk occupation, and the personal implications are clear for not only those engaged with the media but also “people who have been public advocates for democracy and liberty.”

RTHK English News @rthk_enews

"The institutions that ensure the liberty of Hongkongers are being dismantled by people who care so little that they don’t even flinch when it becomes abundantly clear that the very essence of the place is being destroyed," Vines said. #HongKong

news.rthk.hkJournalist Steve Vines flees ‘white terror in HK’ - RTHKVeteran journalist and former RTHK presenter Steve Vines says he has fled the SAR for Britain, to escape the “white terror sweeping through Hong Kong”...

“I want and I demand 100% freedom, with no compromise,” said Kacey Wong as he bid farewell to HK just over two weeks ago. The political artist is heading to Taiwan, explaining that he felt his artistic expression was being stifled.

“When you received this letter, I have already left. Leaving is not easy, staying is also difficult,” he said on Facebook. “We have known each other for 51 years, I will not forget you. Let’s treasure each other, goodbye Hong Kong.”

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COVID news

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating four additional #COVID19 cases involving a woman who arrived from Greece and two men and one woman who arrived from Turkey

news.gov.hk4 imported COVID-19 cases detectedThe Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating four additional COVID-19 cases involving a woman who arrived from Greece and two men and one woman who arrived from Turkey.

Coronavirus in Hong Kong

• New cases: 4 (imported)

• Total cases: 11,995 cases so far (64 active cases, 212 total deaths, 11,719 total recovered)

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Education

Dion Chen, chairman of the Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council, says it is unlikely that most schools will resume full-day classes for the next academic term. For this, the government requires a 70% vaccination rate for students and staff.

Chen believes students are looking forward to having full-day classes again as many school activities have been put on hold over the past year and a half. “Not just learning time, but also the activity time and the time they can mingle with their peers,” he noted.

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Stuff you’re missing from today’s Paid Tide

• The Philippine consulate proposes an internationally recognised vaccination certificate for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs): This “yellow card” would allow FDHs to return and work in HK, following standards set by the World Health Organisation (paywalled).

• Macao politicians fear further action from authorities after being removed from legislative elections: “The current question isn't what you plan to do, but what they plan to do to you,” said barred contender Scott Chiang.

• Cat photo: cat

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