🌊Her Majesty’s still alive! (In un-updated HK laws)

Commercial Chinese Space Travel by 2025 (for the very rich)

Sep 20

Good morning.

It’s been less than two weeks since I’ve been back in HK and I already hate the weather. I mean, I’ve warned everyone about the weather on Tide all summer so I should’ve been prepared, but honestly the stuffiness, humidty and heat of this year’s ‘Autumn’ is incredible.

This is not weather fit for human habitation.

Literally me writing Tide in the heat.

— Cyril

On Today’s Tide

Transport |
- Taxi gets stuck in cement (just like my life)
- MTR fare adjustment open to consulation
COVID |
- Marathon back for 12 Feb
- Partygate: Celia Wong in court
Law | Her Majesty’s still alive! In HK law
Events | Ponte Choir and Orchestra 2022 season

Behind the paywall:

Greater China | Commercial Chinese space travel by 2025
International | Beijing v Joe “we’ll protect Taiwan” Biden

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Taxi in cement

New HK meme just dropped - a taxi in Kennedy Town ran headfirst into wet cement yesterday morning, becoming unable to move until the police arrived and organised a tow truck.

The driver claims he couldn’t see the cement because there was a bus in the way.

Memes and edits of course quickly surfaced, with some comparing the stuck taxi to Hong Kong’s COVID policy. While others described the whole situation as ‘performance art’

Sweary Aaron @TripperheadToo

Obligatory.

I’m less politically inclined. It’s just like my life.

Cyril Ma @Cyrildoesthings

Look at me spreading Hong Kong news objectively and properly like a responsible journalist

MTR fare adjusment mechanism up for consulation

The MTRCL is inviting public consulation on its fare adjusment mechanism (FAM) which dictates how on the subway changes prices.

FAM was set up in 2007 after the merger of the MTR and the KCR as an ‘objective, transparent and direct-drive formulaic approach’ to replace market competition between the two train companies.

Essentially, the MTR is only allowed to raise prices in line with inflation, average earnings, their productivity and some math I don’t fully understand.

As the MTR plays a big role in Hong Kong’s transportation policy, FAM is to be publicly consulted every five years.

If you want your voice heard, then contact the Transport Department before 19 Dec.

Post: Bus and Railway Branch of the Transport Department, 16/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
Fax: 2802 2679
Email: fam-review2022@td.gov.hk

And read the full consultation paper which explains the math I don’t get here.

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Govt announces that the existing #SocialDistancingMeasures will be extended to Oct 5 #COVID19

Social distancing rules maintainedThe Government announces that the existing social distancing measures will be extended to October 5.news.gov.hk

COVID-19 in Hong Kong

New cases: 5594 (135 imported)
Total cases: 1,719,349
New deaths: 7
Total deaths: 9,908
Compulsory Testing locations: 65

Marathon returns

Despite announcing cancellation only a few days prior, the Hong Kong Marathon will be returning on 12 Feb.

This comes after the government expressed confusion and disappointment over the cancellation, saying they had always been in close communication with the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates which organises the marathon. Sports Commissioner Yeung Tak-Keung said that just hours before the cancellation, both sides had touted the idea of a February marathon.

CE John Lee made a personal appeal saying “we feel disappointed that the organizer made the decision before the government’s reply”.

Partygate returns

Celia Wong, honorary chairperson of the Youth Committee of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association, has been called to court over providing fake information to police during the Witman Hung Partygate investigations in Janurary. She also faces charges of not submitting her LeaveHomeSafe data to authorities.

She did not attend her hearing yesterday, with only her lawyer representing her.

Deputy Magistrate Yu Cheuk-Man recommends that Wong show up to the next court date on 25 Oct as the crimes could warrant imprisonment.

Already forgot everything about Witman Hung’s partygate scandal because there are more important COVID stories to think about?

Check out our in-depth coverage on it from Jan.

Her Majesty’s still alive! In….Hong Kong law

Eagle-eyed journalists (much more than me) and solicitors have noticed in the wake of Her Majesty’s death that the term ‘Her Majesty’ and ‘The Crown’ among others are still well and alive in Hong Kong law.

Razven @RazvenHK

Oh, the irony of prosecuting a harmonica player with a colonial era sedition law that still contains references to Her Majesty at her own funeral/vigil.

The Crimes Ordinance (Cap 200) which includes laws against treason and sedition include references not only to the Crown, but also ‘Parliament’, ‘British Territories’ and ‘Her Majesty’s dominions’.

However, the weirdly half-updated patchwork also incriminates ‘seduc[ing] members of the People’s Liberation Army from his duty and allegiance to the People’s Republic of China’ under ‘Offences against the Crown’.

According to Schedule 8 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap 1), all references to Britain, the Commonwealth, Her Majesty and other colonial remnant language has a direct translation into modern Hong Kong and should be read as such.

This is exactly the sort of cop-out I’d use to not proofread and edit several hundred laws!

Solicitor, LegCo and NPC member Maggie Chan said on her Facebook page that she has already written to the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services on the issue.

Sorry for lying yesterday when I said I wouldn’t mention the Queen on Tide again, clearly she’s still around in spirit and refuses to leave.

Events and deals

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

Ponte Orchestra 2022 Season

Our friends at Ponte Choir and Orchestra have announced their 2022 season starting with two concerts in October - Moment: Music and Mindfulness Concert and International Ponte Music Festival: Concerto Competition (Grand Finale).

Moment: Music and Mindfulness is a collaboration between Ponte and music therapist Howard Ho which uses narration and carefully selected classical pieces to combine arts and mindfulness.

pontemusic

A post shared by Ponte Orchestra & Singers (@pontemusic)

Where: Tsuen Wan Town Hall
When: 8 Oct, 8pm
Cost: $180-350 (student and senior discounts applicable)

Official media partner: ReThink HK 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.

For more local events, check out yesterday’s High Tide.