Good morning.
Today I’d like for you to choose our new website banner. I’ve created a poll on Twitter since Substack doesn’t have a poll feature (come on Substack, it’s a great idea!) and present to you the two options:
Option 1 features all-black lettering with our signature wave on top
Option 2 highlights the H and T in red with our signature wave as well
Let us know which you prefer by voting here:
I’ll tell you which ones Cyril and I preferred once the results are in.
On Today’s Tide
Government | Former Xinjiang anti-terrorism drill/paramilitary leader takes the HK PLA garrison reins.
COVID-19 | More quarantine rooms for domestic workers.
Missing | Man last seen in Yuen Long.
Events | Take a tour of an ancient reservoir from home.
Paid readers get access to:
Crime | Alleged child abusers released on bail.
Protests | Up to four years in jail for those guilty of 2019 summer riot, and other sentences.
Appointments | Hong Kong Palace Museum appoints board members.
PLA garrison gets new leader
A former paramilitary chief who led anti-terror combat drills in the Xinjiang region has been appointed to take command of the People’s Liberation Army Garrison in Hong Kong. Major General Peng Jingtang, seen in this recent photo with Chief Executive Carrie Lam, will “resolutely follow the orders of the party, the Central Military Commission and Chairman Xi, to fully implement ‘One country two systems,’ and resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and interests.”
Quarantine rooms opening to domestic helpers
An additional 150 hotel rooms will open up for domestic helpers coming into Hong Kong on 1 February. The nightly fee will be increasing from $650 to $700 at the Rambler Garden Hotel, and anyone who wants to book a room will have to nab it online starting from 10 AM today. By the time these extra rooms are available there will be about 2,300 rooms for domestic helpers in the city.
Do you think this is enough space for incoming domestic workers? Let us know:
In other COVID-19 news:
New cases: 24 (19 imported)
Due to the big birthday bash that led to consequences for the lawmakers and government officials who attended, 20 LegCo members may miss the first meeting of this year’s term (paywalled) because they’ll be stuck quarantining at home. Any chance that they can Zoom in?
Walk-ins to get COVID jabs will be exclusive to those aged 60 and up as of today (Tuesday 11 January).
Uzbekistan has been added to the Group A travel list from 13 January due to the emergence of Omicron cases in the region.
A previously unlinked COVID case may be connected to the patient’s father. The female SOGO department store employee who tested positive for the virus came from an unknown source — until experts found it may have come from her father, who lives with her in Tuen Mun.
Missing: Chan Chun-chi
A 34-year-old by the name of Chan Chun-chi was last seen in Yuen Long on Kau Yuk Road Sunday morning (9 January) wearing a grey jacket, a dark blue t-shirt, brown shorts, and black shoes. He’s described as “about 1.72 metres tall, 73 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short brown hair.”
Know anything? Get in touch with the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories North (3661 3115 or 6273 5787), email rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Events (or something to do during lockdown)
We want to make sure that what we advertise is interesting for our readers, so if you go to an event that you saw here, let us know by taking a selfie and tagging us on Twitter or Instagram ( both @harbourtimes ).
We’ll throw in a free month of Paid High Tide for yourself or a friend!
Since the city is in lockdown, there’s nothing like a wholesome virtual tour of the Bishop Hill Reservoir to fill up your days inside. You can also read our article from last year on the discovery and near-destruction of this cistern.
Where: Online
When: Whenever!
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