Good morning.
Iād just like to point out, in case anyone didnāt get it, that Jasmine is not actually locked in my basement with a lifesize cardboard cut out of Miku. Thatās not possible because I do not have a basement, and my lifesize Miku is a scroll and not made of cardboard.
However, I should really go and visit her to make sure sheās ok.
Thatās what Iāll be doing after my trip to Bonn for the DW World Media Forum in June - donate to Harbour Times so I can actually afford to let Jasmine out of my basement.
ā Cyril
On Todayās Tide
HT Originals | NFTs from an Artists Perspective: Sharmaine Kwan
COVID | Should all diners do rapid tests??
Weather | Bring an umbrella
Transport | Taxi prices go brrrr
Events | Opening night for the Open Couple!
Behind the paywall:
Press Freedom | Open Letter to the FCC
Politics | HK Gov vs G7
Become a premium subscriber for just $8US a month ā extra daily news and weekend roundups!
NFTs from an Artistās Perspective
Here we go hopping on the NFT wagon. NFTs have gotten really popular recently in Hong Kong, so we asked our friend, previous Leader of the Week, Sharmaine Kwan for her perspective on it.
Full disclosure - itās biased, after all Sharmaine is one of the top NFT artists in town - but it is an op-ed.
āThe choice is still in the hands of the creator. Regardless of the direction they choose to take but for others, especially those whose works are in a digital form, the technology of NFTs have provided an additional way for the ownership and monetization of digital assets. NFTs can also protect and support artists as they can continue earning royalties from future second-hand sales as well as removing or reducing intermediary costs.ā
Sharmaine āright click saveā Kwan
While youāre at it, remind yourself of Sharmaineās previous collabs with HT in her LoTW takeover, and our coverage of her own collab with Sophia the Robot (yes that Sophia).
COVID in Hong Kong
New cases: 273 (27 imported)
Total cases: 1,207,091
New deaths: 5
Total deaths: 9,352
Overall trend, slightly on the rise with local cases 46 higher than yesterday .
Should all diners get tested? Experts fight.
Medical Association expert Joseph Tsang said on Monday that all diners and visitors to restaurants and other regulated premises to display negative RAT tests before going in - in addition to Leave Home Safe and vaccination records.
Almost immediately he was slammed by other experts such as Professor Ho Pak Leung said that Tsangās suggestion was āout of touchā and ignored the fact that āhalf of Hong Kongās working force would dine outā.
Simon Wong from the Institute of Dining Art made similar arguments, calling Tsangās suggestion as āimpracticalā and that it would push the financial burden onto consumers who have to buy more tests. And in any case, Wong notes that restaurants canāt actually check if your test was done on the day.
Bring an umbrella
Itās going to be rainy and stormy for days (all the way till Tuesday in fact), so bring an umbrella. Temperatures still floating around 25 degrees though, so not much cooler unfortunately.
Taxi prices go brrr
The government has approved a motion to increase taxi fares, to actually take effect in July.
Prices going up while waiting will also start at 45 seconds instead of 60. Animal and bird surcharges will also rise slightly.
Get your change ready!
Events and deals
Support Harbour Times, our friends and partners by attending these events! Let everyone know who sent you by tagging @harbourtimes
For more local events, check out yesterdayās High Tide.
ReThink returns 5-6 Oct
HT is proud to once again be a media partner for ReThink - HKās biggest and most exciting sustainability conference. This yearās 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.
And some REALLY COOL EXHIBITION COUNTERS TOO. Last year, I got a potted plant <3 Read our full press release on the event here.
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!
The Open Couple: Opening Night
Event Description: āIn this farce about sexual politics in marriage, a man persuades his suicidal wife that an open marriage is politically correct and embarks on dalliances with younger women, to her dismay and fury. After deciding to be on her own, the tables are turned when she confesses to a new man, Nobel prize nominated professor and inspired singer-songwriter, it is the husband who becomes suicidal.ā
Shoutout to The Open Coupleās director and High Tide subscriber Ryan King for sharing the event!
When: 11-14 May at 8 PM
Where: HKRep Black Box, 8F, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, 345 Queenās Rd Central, Sheung Wan
Price: $250
Iāll be going on Saturday for the closing night, please say hi if youāre there!
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