🌊 Ghost ride cut short
🌊 Ghost ride cut short
HK$95 million is the price for government upgrades.
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On Today’s Tide
Politics | HK$95 million a year for a restructured government.
COVID-19 | $2 million for family of a woman who died post-vaccination.
Society | Police intervene on Ride of Silence.
Events | Row, row, row your dragon boat.
Behind the paywall
Transport | Docking off departure taxes from bridge travellers to the airport.
Media | Indie book publisher declined a spot at Book Fair. National security police pay a visit to Passion Times.
Education | Big new appointments at two of HK’s universities.
Crime | Failed boat fugitives caught up in guilty plea. Vandalism at the crypto office.
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Restructuring ain’t cheap!
Politics
All of the Hong Kong government’s reorganising, restructuring, and redoing, will come at a cost, and the cost is not what most of us would consider a credit card tap away.
New additions to the government include two policy bureaus (to make 15 in total) along with a number of new roles. The total to make this happen? HK$95 million extra a year.
New Chief Executive John Lee said that “relevant work” for this big revamp should be completed by mid-June. Speaking of Mr Lee, here’s a reminder to keep your eye on our Chief Executive Countdown!
Clusters galore
COVID-19
An update on the COVID-19 clusters popping up around the city:
Private kitchen in Kwun Tong: +6, 26 total
Sky Cuisine restaurant in Sheung Wan: +6, 70 total
TamJai Yunnan Mixian in Tung Chung: +3
Hung Hom snooker club: +1
Coronavirus in Hong Kong
New cases: 329 (31 imported)
Deaths: 4
Lockdown: West Terrace at Sai Wan Estate in Kennedy Town was blocked off for overnight testing.
Compulsive Testing Notice: 40 specified places
The family of a woman who died 16 days after she was vaccinated for COVID-19 (Pfizer-BioNTech) has been financially compensated with HK$2 million.
Police stop Ride of Silence
Society
Hong Kong Ghost Bikes is a project that pays respect to those who died in bicycle-related accidents. In 2021, eight riders died in such crashes.
The Ghost Bikes Ride of Silence last night was followed by a heavy police presence. According to the group, despite following anti-epidemic rules by keeping the ride to a group of four people, an estimated group of 30 police officers halted the ride.
Events and deals
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DC Dragon Boat Festival
To bring attention to an international Hong Kong event, Hongkongers will be taking part in the Washington DC Dargon Boat Festival and will be proud to represent Hongkongers everywhere!
Open Division: 250m & 500m
When: 21 May, 9 AM - 4 PM
Location: Thompsons Boat Center (2900 Virginia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007)
250m Time Trail: 9:32 AM
250m Final: 10:20-11:28 AM
500m Time Trial: 1:20 PM
500m Final: 2:40-3:48 PM
ReThink HK 5-6 October
As a High Tide subscriber, you get to enjoy super-early-bird prices until 4 Sep (already expired for everyone else in early May).
Sign up here using the code HTP22 for 40% off a standard ticket!
HT is proud to be once again a media partner for ReThink - HK’s biggest and most exciting sustainability conference. This year’s conference invites more than 300 expert speakers to share their visions and insights, covering important topics like economic progression while coexisting with nature harmoniously, efficient use of resources, transformation to a low-carbon society, and circular economy for future generations.
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