🌊 Int'l Bar Association urges for suspension of extradition treaties with HK

Also, we don't talk about Singapore (not to Carrie, at least) 🤫

Mar 24, 2022

∙ Paid

Good morning,

After going MIA for last Saturday’s Tide, I feel like I owe y’all some sort of explanation (I know I really don’t, but I’m gonna do it anyway!). So here’s Mr. Ross “the divorce force” Geller himself providing a visual representation of just how hectic the past week was for me and my university buddies:

If you know, you know 🥲

– Carlos

On Today’s Tide:

NSL | International Bar Association calls for suspension of extradition treaties with HK
COVID-19 |
- CE defends HK’s COVID strategies as Singapore announces relaxation of its pandemic restrictions
- Teachers will soon be required to get a third jab for school resumption
- CE asks for more mainland experts to come and help HK (again)
Society | Nearly 100,000 people have applied for the HK$10,000 jobless subsidy
Events

Behind the paywall:

Education | Special DSE arrangements for students deemed close contacts of COVID patients
Economy | 59 percent of HK social enterprises fear bankruptcy amid fifth wave: new survey
Travel | HK flight searches soar following relaxation of flight bans and shortened quarantine

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International Bar Association calls for suspension of extradition treaties with Hong Kong

NSL

IBAHRI @IBAHRI

IBAHRI calls on int'l community to suspend extradition treaties with #HongKong amid alleged intimidation by HK authorities of #humanrights defenders, inc co-founder of @hk_watch, @benedictrogers. #China #NationalSecurityLaw. Read: tinyurl.com/nh39btme

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has called on overseas governments to suspend extradition treaties with Hong Kong amid accusations of alleged intimidation towards human rights defenders by Hong Kong authorities.

This comes just two weeks after Benedict Rogers, a British citizen and co-founder of Hong Kong Watch – a non-governmental UK-based organization monitoring the city’s human rights situation, received a letter from the National Security Bureau ordering him to take down his website, citing its threat China’s national security.

CE hits back at HK-Singapore COVID comparisons

COVID-19

When asked yesterday whether Hong Kong should follow regional rival Singapore’s lead of easing most COVID-19 restrictions to begin living with the virus, CE Carrie Lam hit back saying the city would instead “chart its own way out of the pandemic”, adding that there is no “one size fits all” strategy.

The CE also appeared to play down comparisons after being asked if Singapore had “snatched Hong Kong’s crown as Asia’s global hub”, arguing Hong Kong remains an “attractive world financial centre, aviation hub, and a good place to live and work”.

🇭🇰 5th 👋 Aaron @tripperhead

Q: Singapore just lifted most restrictions. Has Hong Kong lost to Singapore as a global financial centre? Carrie Lam: I don't think there are only two pathways. Will have to do what is in the best interests for Hong Kong.

New cases: 13,074 (5,732 PCR, 7,342 RAT)
Total cases: 1,101,225
New deaths: 152 (49 backlog)
Total deaths: 6,770

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Centre for Health Protection says it is looking into 13,074 additional #COVID19 cases, of which 5,732 were detected by #NucleicAcidTests and 7,342 were identified via #RapidAntigenTests news.gov.hk/eng/2022/03/20…

Other COVID-19 Updates:

• Education secretary Kevin Yeung yesterday said that teachers would eventually be required to get a third jab in order for them to resume full in-person classes.

• CE Carrie Lam said yesterday that she has requested the central government to send more delegations of mainland experts to come to Hong Kong, pledging to step up use the of traditional Chinese medicine to treat COVID-19 patients.

• The government has announced it will set up a new temporary pop-up community vaccination centre on Caroline Hill Road in Causeway Bay on March 29. The centre will offer the BioNTech vaccine to those aged 12 and above, with online booking starting today.

• The newly constructed Yuen Long Tam Mei Community Isolation Facility opened yesterday, making it the sixth such facility to be completed with mainland assistance.

Lockdown updates:

• Four residential blocks in Kwun Tong, Aberdeen, Sham Shui Po, and Tsuen Wan have been placed under lockdown for overnight testing after their sewage samples tested positive for COVID-19.

Nearly 100,000 people have applied for the HK$10,000 jobless subsidy

Society

Almost 100,000 people have now signed up for a HK$10,000 unemployement subsidy a day after applications first opened, according to official government statistics.

From Wednesday, Hongkongers were able to apply for the ‘Temporary Unemployment Relief Scheme’, a new subsidy introduced to provide assistance to those who have lost their jobs due to the fifth wave of COVID-19. Eligible applicants can submit their applications online by following the details provided on the official website before April 12.

Events and deals

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

• Get into the groove with Hong Kong’s finest musicians

In the mood for a little swing? Tune in to Innonation Hong Kong’s ‘Jazz Thursday Explorations 2’, an upcoming live-streamed performance set to feature a string of local jazz artists, from Hong Kong-based Scottish saxophonist Scott Murphy to multi-discipline musician Justin Siu.

When: 7th April, 9:30 p.m.

Details: Watch the live broadcast of performances here

• "A Woman's World”: Asia's first virtual exhibition highlighting NFTs

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, be sure to join our previous LoTW Sharmaine Kwan with Bamboo Scenes’ exciting new online NFT exhibition honoring local female artists and exploring the endless possibilities of the Metaverse.

bambooscenes