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🌊 HK is (finally) re-opened again! 🎉

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

🌊 HK is (finally) re-opened again! 🎉

People wasted no time getting back into the swing of things as COVID-19 rules officially eased yesterday.

Harbour Times
Apr 21, 2022
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🌊 HK is (finally) re-opened again! 🎉

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

Good morning,

Well, it’s about that time folks… hope everyone was able to make the most out of the first day of social-distancing relaxations yesterday! 🥳 With rules now finally eased, yes – this is exactly how I expect everyone in HK to be turning up to those Cha Chaan Tengs after 6pm everyday:

– Carlos


On Today’s Tide:

  1. COVID-19 |

    • Much enthusiasm as social-distancing rules ease in HK 🎉

    • COVID-19 arrangements will be put in place for upcoming HKDSE exams

    • Nightlife businesses call on government to let them re-open too

  2. Law and Crime | Law firm Vidler & Co. to close after 19 years in HK

  3. Events

Behind the paywall:

  1. CE Election | Beijing hits back at Google for taking down John Lee’s YouTube channel

  2. Nobel Prize | Imprisoned HK pro-democracy leaders among 2022 Nobel Peace Prize nominees

Become a premium subscriber for just $8US a month – extra daily news and weekend roundups!


COVID? What COVID?

COVID-19

People all across Hong Kong were seen out and about yesterday, as the first official day of relaxed social-distancing measures came into effect. Cinemas, theme parks, places of worship, museums, and gyms re-opened their doors again, with dine-in hours at restaurants now extended to 10 p.m allowing up to four people per table.

After months of closure, happy faces (under the masks, of course) were seen all around as crowds of families flocked to Disneyland and Ocean Park 😁:

Twitter avatar for @racporter
Rachel Yeo @racporter
Hundreds of enthusiastic guests cheering and rushing into Hong Kong Disneyland the moment gates open. The park resumes operations today after months of closure during the fifth #covid19 wave.
2:25 AM ∙ Apr 21, 2022
117Likes35Retweets

Many ecstatic gym-goers even rushed to work out at the stroke of midnight to get a hold of the weights they haven’t held for so long… (because priorities, duh 💪🏼):

Twitter avatar for @gongnui
AP 🇭🇰 @gongnui
I'm sorry but this is too funny 😂😂 People waited to enter the 24h gyms exactly at midnight, saying 'muscles can't wait'
Image
2:59 AM ∙ Apr 21, 2022
215Likes23Retweets
  • New cases: 628 (317 PCR, 311 RAT)

  • Total cases: 1,200,334

  • New deaths: 18 (8 backlog)

  • Total deaths: 9,212

    Twitter avatar for @RTHK_
    RTHK News Feed @RTHK_
    Hong Kong logs 628 new Covid cases
    news.rthk.hkHong Kong logs 628 new Covid cases - RTHKThe Centre for Health Protection on Thursday reported 628 new Covid infections – down 40 cases from the previous day. Officials said 317 of the new in...
    9:56 AM ∙ Apr 21, 2022

Other COVID-19 updates:

• Health authorities yesterday said that six students will undertake their HKDSE exams in a quarantine camp after four of them came down with COVID-19, with special arrangements set to facilitate the process.

• Representatives of nightlife businesses called on the government yesterday to allow them to re-open as well, saying it was unfair for them to be left out of COVID-19 relaxations.

• The hospitality sector welcomed the easing of social-distancing measures for eateries, saying it was a good way to help businesses improve their income – but also warned that it may not be as beneficial to more traditional restaurants in the city.

Lockdown updates:

• Nine positive and three indeterminate COVID-19 cases were uncovered during a compulsory testing exercise for a restricted area in Kwun Tong.


Vidler & Co. to cease operations after 19 years in HK

Law and Crime

Local law firm Vidler & Co., which handled several high-profile cases in relation to the 2019 protests, announced yesterday that it will close down on June 3 after 19 years in the city.

The firm specialised in human rights issues and picked up many controversial incidents as well, including one involving Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah, who was allegedly shot in the face with a police projectile during a 2019 protest in Wan Chai.

Twitter avatar for @krislc
Kris Cheng @krislc
Vidler & Co. often represented Hong Kong activists in high profile cases. Could be a coincidence, it’s closing a day before the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre.
Twitter avatar for @squirtleinhk
Phil @squirtleinhk
Vidler & Co. has filed to the Law Society a notice of intention to cease practice from June 3rd onwards. https://t.co/AVFE0jGmEj https://t.co/ygajwE0Yak
8:08 AM ∙ Apr 21, 2022
41Likes29Retweets

Events and deals

  • Specialisty Coffee Workshops with Gokan

gokanlounge
A post shared by Gokan Lounge (@gokanlounge)

Enjoy a cup of coffee but not sure why? Want to learn how to make it yourself? Q-Grader (literally qualified world class) barista Jaco will be hosting boutique coffee courses next week:

  • Tuesday 6-7pm: Brewing techniques

  • Wednesday 10:30am-12pm: Sensory and cupping training

More details to come. Don’t miss out!

  • Smashin’ Grapes - Hong Kong’s first Italian Grape Ale

deadmanbrewery
A post shared by Deadman Brewery (@deadmanbrewery)

Another week, another new craft beer launch! Deadman Brewery’s new brew is Hong Kong’s first Italian Grape Ale, a newer beer style which uses a large portion of wine grapes in fermentation to create a wine-beer hybrid.

“We used 20% white grapes, 20% red grapes to add more layers of flavor and give the beer a beautiful light pink hue. Fermented with saison yeast. Aged on light toasted French oak for subtle oaky flavours to add complexity".

Grand launch at Craft Logic, Soho, this Saturday.

Grab a glass and drink till 10pm when please go home because that’s how long you’re allowed to stay out.

  • Yardley Brothers: Bottle Discounts

yardleybrothers
A post shared by Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery (@yardleybrothers)

Award winning local craft brewers the Yardley Brothers are doing bottle discounts at both their pubs - the OG Beer Shack on Lamma Island and their brand new YARDLEYS Cafe/Bistro/Bar on Peel Street.

At YARDLEYS: 20% off bottles of beer for takeaway. Special recommendation for the 12 month barrel Aged Fijoa Sour - made to celebrate the opening of the bar!

At The Beer Shack: Buy 5 get 6th for free on all bottles.

Support Harbour Times, our friends, and partners by attending these events! Let everyone know who sent you by tagging @harbourtimes.

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