🌊 This grill is on fiya

Gear up for St. Patty's 🍀

Good morning.

Talking to all three people I know in Birmingham I have realised that the whole green beer gimmick for St. Patrick’s day is not a British thing.

I want it though.

— Jasmine Lee

---

On Today’s Tide

Products | Grill fails stress test in flames.

COVID-19 | New drug may be a ‘game-changer’ for treating virus patients.

Missing | Three elderly men declared missing.

Events | St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow!!

Behind the paywall:

COVID-19 cont. | Majority of truckers are at risk of losing their jobs. White dolphins are doing well in the pandemic. Two men have been arrested for encouraging people to spread COVID.

Jobs | Asia Society Hong Kong is looking for interns!

Crime | Police pedos pissed off the commissioner so much they almost got immediately fired.

Economy | Rent deferral scheme gets CE stamp of approval.

---

Your grill might burst into flame

Products

South China Morning Post @SCMPNews

Hong Kong consumer watchdog turns up heat on grill appliance markers after 60 per cent of products report safety hazards

scmp.comHong Kong consumer watchdog turns up heat on faulty grill appliance markersConsumer Council conducts study of 11 grill appliances, with one product bursting into flames during stress testing.

A Consumer Council study found that one of 11 small grill appliances burst into flame during a stress test. The SG-2717C grill made by Daewoo Electronics failed said stress test spectacularly, as the machine reportedly smoked and went on fire after it was put under extreme conditions. The grill has been declared a fire hazard after its “dissatisfactory safety performance”, according to the Consumer COuncil’s research and testing committee.

On the topic of products to avoid, the council also warned that some squeeze toys were found to have cancer-causing chemicals in them.

---

New drug the answer to COVID?

COVID-19

Paxlovid, an anti-viral pill made by Pfizer, has come to Hong Kong and will be used to treat high-risk COVID patients dealing with mild symptoms starting today (Wednesday, 16 March). The drug has been reported to lower viral loads in patients who are in their first five days of coming down with symptoms.

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Centre for Health Protection says it is looking into 27,765 additional #COVID19 cases, of which 11,956 were detected by nucleic acid tests and 15,809 were identified via rapid antigen tests

news.gov.hk27k COVID-19 cases detectedThe Centre for Health Protection says it is looking into 27,765 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 11,956 were detected by nucleic acid tests and 15,809 were identified via rapid antigen tests.

New cases: 27,765 (11,956 PCR tests, 15,809 RATs)

Deaths: 289

Private hospitals will be making 1,000 more of their beds available to non-COVID patients as public facilities are overwhelmed with cases.

If you’re feeling stuck on what to do if you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19, check out SCMP’s explainer. It provides a lot of helpful links and resources, so keep it saved just in case.

A COVID-19 hotline run by an NGO for elderly residents received 2,020 calls in the first two weeks of March. This is staggering compared to the 54 calls they got in January this year.

Lockdown updates:

• Public housing buildings in Sha Tin, Tsing Yi, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, and Kwun Tong have been put under overnight lockdown (see building names here).

---

Three elderly men reported missing

Missing

There are three men who were reported missing yesterday:

• Pang Siu-tong (89)

Source: HKSAR Press Releases

• Chan Chun-ping (74)

Source: HKSAR Press Releases

• Wat Sar-wan (83)

Source: HKSAR Press Releases

If you have any idea of their whereabouts, call the numbers provided in the linked photos above.

---

Events and deals

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

• 10% off the Cellar: La Cabane x Harbour Times

Our friends over at La Cabane have kindly given all High Tide subscribers 10% off everything on their online store - high quality wines, cheeses and wines-and-cheeses accessories.

lacabanehk

A post shared by La Cabane - Natural Wine HK (@lacabanehk)

Use the code HIGHONWINE10 at www.lacabane.hk to stock up your wine cellar today.

• A virtual St. Patrick’s Day celebration

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Hong Kong with a special upcoming virtual event hosted by the Irish Consulate General next week, with notable guest appearances from Olympic medalist Siobhan Haughey and singer-songwriter Serrini.

Ireland in Hong Kong @IrelandinHK

Join us online for our #StPatricksDayHK event next Thurs with An Taoiseach, Mr @MichealMartinTD, Olympic medallist #SiobhanHaughey and singer-songwriter #Serrini, hosted by CG @dmacostello 📅 Date: 17 Mar, Thurs 🕒 Time: 6:30pm HKT 🌐 Link: Ireland.ie/HongKong

When: 17th March, 6:30 p.m.

Details: Sign up for the virtual St. Patrick’s event here

• Hong Kong Arts Festival

Watch live-streamed operas and concerts, and even some one-on-one interactive live theatre! Make sure to register in advance – each show has its own attendance policy.

harbourtimes

A post shared by Harbour Times | Hong Kong News (@harbourtimes)

Want your events on Tide as well? Let us know!

---

This is the end of your free time on Tide.

Become a Premium subscriber to see what lies behind the paywall:

Can’t go Premium yet? No worries, there are other ways to support High Tide:

• Buy us a Ko-fi

• Send us a one-time donation via PayPal

• Share High Tide – it’s free!