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🌊Carrie's perfect report card

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

🌊Carrie's perfect report card

Doggos DEFEND HK

Harbour Times
Jun 9, 2022
Share this post

🌊Carrie's perfect report card

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

Good morning.

Just a quickie reminding everyone that we’re hiring! We need both writers and social media helpers, so I can stop forcing Marion to vomit out designs.

Email us at editor@harbourtimes.com, or message on any social media channel!

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

— Cyril

Charlotte’s CE timer link + screenshot

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20220701T08&p0=102&msg=Happy+CE+day+to+u&ud=1&font=hand&csz=1


On Today’s Tide

  1. Politics | Carrie Lam gets a perfect report card

  2. COVID | clusters keep growing but the deaths….

  3. Policy | MPF offsetting cancelled

  4. Events

  5. Doggo | DEFEND HK Customs and AVESCO raise puppets

  6. Crime | Woman arrested for balcony sex

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Carrie’s perfect score card

In yesterday’s final Legco Q&A of her tenure, CE Carrie Lam said ā€œI can say boldly that I have delivered a report card I am not ashamed of, and have written a perfect full stop to my 42 years in public serviceā€.

Speaking of her 5 year tenure, which included the 2019 Anti-ELAB demonstrations sparked by her unpopular extradition bill, the enacting of the NSL, and the COVID-19 Pandemic, Lam said ā€œIn the past five years, we have seen the biggest challenge for the SAR since reunification. The past five years were full of turbulence, but I remained undaunted,ā€

The Chief Executive also noted that it has been 25 years since the Handover - technically speaking, half way through One Country, Two Systems - but there is no reason to worry because Beijing has made it clear that they won’t remove a system that works. And with the changes after the NSL, 1C2S just works!

Hong Kong elections: why the next chief executive may no longer be known by  3 digits, such as '689' for CY Leung, or Carrie Lam's '777'
Straight A student!

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COVID in Hong Kong

COVID-19 in Hong Kong

  • New cases: 674

  • Total cases: 1,216,902

  • New deaths: 1

  • Total deaths: 9,390

Triple vax requirements not great for disabled

New rules kicking in next week will require all patients at out-patient clinics to be either triple vaxxed, an official exemption or a negative PCR test taken within the past 48 hours. However, rights groups for the disabled argued that this policy is discriminatory and will lead to many patients not getting help.

Rabi Yim, head of the Direction Association for the Handicapped said that getting a PCR test is as difficult as visiting the out-patient clinic itself, as many PCR testing centres aren’t easily accessible by wheelchair.

Yim, who is herself disabled, also said that many patients can’t get vaccinated for health reasons, but also find it difficult to get a doctor’s exemption. And that in any case, exemptions only last 3 months. Many patients have already cancelled appointments due to the extra steps.

Surprised And Excited Senior Woman Rises From Wheelchair Stock Photo -  Download Image Now - iStock
Just like…get better?

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MPF offsetting offset

A controversial bill canceling the MPF offset has been passed by Legco. The bill, which was first tabled on Wednesday, has been a 20 year battle - as old as the MPF itself - for some lawmakers. Michael Luk of the FTU on Wednesday sang a little ditty based on everyone HKer’s favourite folk song….Greensleeves … about why the MPF offsetting mechanism should be banned.

Twitter avatar for @hkfp
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP @hkfp
1/ Lawmaker Michael Luk burst into song on Wednesday as the legislature moved to vote on disallowing firms from using pension funds as severance payments. "I am very emotional, I think this is a milestone in the labour sector's fight for rights," he said.
9:08 AM āˆ™ Jun 8, 2022
14Likes5Retweets

Until yesterday, employers were able to use their share of a worker’s MPF to pay service and long term severance. This would sometimes leave workers without enough money at retirement.

Under new legislation, the mechanism will be gradually phased out till 2025. In the meantime, the government has earmarked HK$33.2 billion to pay for extra costs incurred by employers for 25 years.

Many pro-business legco members were not happy, however, with some saying the only reason they supported the MPF 20 years ago was because of the mechanism. They argued that this would give unnecessary financial pressure on SMEs who now have to cough up ā€˜extra’ money for workers’ retirement.

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Events and deals

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

  • ReThink returns 5-6 Oct

HT is proud to once again be a media partner for ReThink - HK’s biggest and most exciting sustainability conference. This year’s 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 25% off!

  • Vegetarian Food Asia 2022

vegfoodasia
A post shared by äŗžę“²ē“ é£Ÿå±• | Vegetarian Food Asia 🌱 (@vegfoodasia)

As chosen by our LoTW Luke Samtani: I follow a vegan plant-based diet, undoubtedly, I'm excited about Hong Kong's biggest and most diverse vegetarian and green living expo that will take place in June.

Where: HKCEC
When: 10-12 Jun (latest rescheduling)
Entry: Free (advanced registration; $20 walk-in)

Sha Tau Kok Partially Opens to Tourists

discoverhongkong
A post shared by Discover Hong Kong (@discoverhongkong)

The border town of Sha Tau Kok is partially opening up to tourists. Located within the Frontier Closed Area, Sha Tau Kok is normally only accessible with a special travel pass. But now local tours can visit the longest pier in Hong Kong and several other small Hakka islands on Fridays and weekends.

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