🌊Hongkongers in SPAAACE

No scientific reason to keep COVID regulations - Dr. Ho Pak-Leung

Good afternoon,

Life got in the way a bit yesterday, so apologies for writing today’s Tide up late. Back to our usual scheduling tomorrow!

Speaking of tomorrow - myself and our semi-regular contributor Beth Kong will be at ReThink tomorrow and Thursday!

ReThink is always great fun to go to - lots of interesting talks, great people to meet, interesting businesses to look into especially if you’re looking for new ways to become more sustainable. We met many of the past year’s LoTW guests at ReThink and hope to meet many more this year!

Tickets are still available online and at the door and online passes are also offered!

Harbour Times & High Tide: 🇭🇰 News @harbourtimes

Photo of video of photo taking because livestream are like that HT is covering @ReThink_HK conference both days. Come say hi! #AccelerateTheChange

Please do come say hi if you’ll be there!

— Cyril

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On Today’s Tide

• Science | Hong Kongers in SPAAAACE

• COVID | No scientific backing for most COVID rules: Dr. Ho

• Environment | FEHD & HKFP to target illegally extended shopfronts

• Events | ReThink online!

Behind the paywall:

• Politics | Civil Servant College not for politics: Oscar Kwok

Become a premium subscriber for just $8US a month – extra daily news and weekend roundups!

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HKers in SPAAAAACE

Beijing announced yesterday that Hong Kongers and Macanese are invited to apply to join the national space program.

Now in its 30th year, the Chinese manned space programmes have so far been limited to mainland nationals, but the upcoming fourth trip will allow patriotic residents of the two SARs to join the Taikonaut ranks. Working predominantly as payload specialists, the new Taikonauts will be responsible for “conducting aerospace experiments or researches, operating space laboratory equipment, and managing daily operations of space stations with other astronauts”.

“The HKSAR Government is immensely honoured for the arrangement and expresses sincere gratitude to the country” said the local press release.

Those interested in going to SPAAAAAACE have to be:

• Chinese national and a premanent resident of Hong Kong

• Candidate and immediate family have to be patriots who adhere to
  ‘One Country, Two Systems’

• Physically fit and meet certain eyesight and height criteria

• Hold a PhD in a scientific field

• Be linked to a predetermined set of institutions including Universities, government agencies etc (though this is negotiable if you really love space)

Interested parties can apply from now till Oct 27 on the official website. All applicants will be screen further screen by the mainland authorities before being sent to training and then to SPAAAACE!

And now I get to use this meme again and that’s great:

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COVID in Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Government completes joint enforcement operations at Man Ming House of Chun Man Court in Ho Man Tin and Tower 1 of Park Towers in Tin Hau, which were earlier included in #CompulsoryTestingNotices

news.gov.hkTesting records verifiedThe Government completes joint enforcement operations at Man Ming House of Chun Man Court in Ho Man Tin and Tower 1 of Park Towers in Tin Hau, which were earlier included in compulsory testing notices.

COVID-19 in Hong Kong

• New cases: 3529 (343 imported)

• Total cases: 1,776,409

• New deaths: 3

• Total deaths: 10,176

• Compulsory Testing locations: 63

No scientific proof for COVID regulations

One of the most prominent COVID advisors, Dr. Ho Pak-Leung has spoken out about continued strick regulations against COVID, saying that they are “unnecessary and is no longer scientifically justified” but understands if the government needs to keep them for other “administrative justifications”. Specific regulations he criticised were the four person gathering ban, and tracing using LHS.

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FEHD and HKP combat illegal shopfront extensions

You ever walk down Mong Kok and have to parkour over all the shops that store products 2 metres into the street?

Well, worry less because the police and FEHD are launching a joint operation to have more “stringent enforcement actions in all districts across the territory gradually starting from today to step up tackling the problems of illegal shop extension and obstruction”.

According to the FEHD press release, this is to “combat hygiene black spots with illegal shop front extensions” to fix “an environmental hygiene problem that has been plaguing the districts for years”.

The new program is a continuation of a pilot program that launched last September in limited districts. Under this program, police are given statutory powers to give warnings to shops that are illegally extending into the streets. If stores do not heed warnings, the FEHD and police have the right to remove obstructions which may include sales products and good.

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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

• Official media partner: ReThink HK returns 5-6 Oct

Can’t make it in person? ReThink offers virtual delegate passes still available for purchase! See you all Wednesday

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.

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