Good morning,

Here’s the official music video for the song I was referencing with the title, in case any of y’all were wondering.

Today’s recipe is…this fantastic, super-easy shortbread recipe from my favorite tiny whisk dude on YouTube, Binging With Babish. Takes literally 5 mins to make (and an hour to bake). Also, when recipes advise you to “let things rest” before you cut into/eat them are you actually supposed to listen? Lmk :)

-Charlotte

On Today’s Tide

1. Culture | HK Palace Museum’s ACTUAL opening

2. COVID

3. Politics | It’s all about Xi (feat. John Lee)

   • CE’s first formal cabinet meeting

   • Potential infection for China’s president?

4. Typhoon Chaba | Shipwreck caused by typhoon puts seamen at risk

Behind the paywall:

1. Society | HK loses two artistic legends: a moment of silence

2. Politics | ‘Hong Kong, add oil’: Jacky Cheung defends usage of controversial phrase

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

Museum buffs…assemble!

Oh my god, some of the visitors’ garbs were almost as gorgeous as the 900+ relics on display at the Palace Museum. The Palace Museum’s opening was originally scheduled for July 1, but was delayed due to- never would’ve guessed- Typhoon Chaba.

So from Sunday 9am onwards, thousands of historical art aficionados gathered to be let in, after a *sick* lion dance performance to mark the opening at 8:50am.

Some officials were present on-site to welcome the eager superfans (some of whom showed up as early as 8am). Those officials included newly appointed Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung, museum board chairman Bernard Chan, and director Louis Ng Chi-wa.

About 115k of the 140k tickets available for July were sold by Saturday, according to the Museum. For August onwards, tickets will be sold on a weekly basis starting from July 12.

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COVID in Hong Kong

Aaron Busch @tripperhead

• New reported PCR+ cases: 437 📉 (-277) • New reported RAT+ cases: 1244 📉 (-126) • Imported: 147 📈 (+4) • New cases reported July 3rd: 1828 📉 (-399) • Total cases: 1,252,170 • Local Cases 5th Wave: 1,233,805 • Total Deaths: 9,405 • 5th Wave deaths: 9,192

8:35 AM ∙ Jul 3, 2022

• New cases: 1,828

• Total cases: 1,252,170

• New deaths: 0

• Total deaths: 9,405

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Cabinet members…assemble!

On Sunday morning, the newly-instated CE had his first official meeting with his cabinet to talk about some stuff. Namely, priorities for HK’s future and a ‘to-do’ list of 4 expectations for HK’s governing body, as instilled by President Xi Jinping himself.

Lee wrote on his social media page:

“I would regard the four expectations floated by Xi as the key direction and blueprint for my new administration.

“With results [in policy execution], we would narrow the differences and build up mutual trust [between the people and the government], so that Hong Kong will become a city that is full of hope, more liveable and more open.”

One senior official reported this 3-hour meeting was also in preparation for Lee’s busy schedule this week, what with his first meeting with his Executive Council’s advisers on Tuesday and a Q&A session in the Legislation Council the day after.

On July 2 Lee reportedly made calls to other officials in China to discuss reopening the border with the mainland. Previously he was also discussing potential 5+2 vs. 3+4 possibilities for hotel quarantine + home isolation times for international travelers.

I know I’m not the biggest maths genius, but: 5 + 2 ≠ 3 + 4, even though 7 = 7. You’re following me, right?

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Xi’s potential for contracting COVID?

Lawmaker Steven Ho tested positive for COVID, 2 days after posing with President Xi in a group photo for the 25th anniversary celebrations. This sparked some concern over the effectiveness of the anti-epidemic, “closed-loop” measures for those attending the ceremony.

Ho revealed on Sunday that he tested positive on Saturday (Jul 2). He is currently in self-isolation after reporting to health authorities. Ho stated:

“The sample on June 30 came back negative. The July 1 sample was classified as uncertain, containing a low viral load with an extremely low risk of transmission…But to protect public safety, I did not participate in the activities on July 1.”

The photo below was actually taken on June 30, so we’ll see whether there is any transmission risk to China’s president. I’ll leave y’all with a quote from a source close to Ho’s constituency:

“If President Xi is infected, it will be a joke to the world because everyone got tested on a daily basis before the event.”

Grim outlook for seamen caught in typhoon-caused shipwreck

At Typhoon Chaba’s peak on Saturday, a mainland Chinese engineering vessel (Fujing001) at sea snapped in two, much to the peril of its 30-strong crew.

3 of the seamen were rescued that day from the wreck by the Government Flying service. However, the chance of finding the other 27 alive are “very, very slim”, according to a controller from the flying service.

Monday marks the 3rd day of searching for the missing sailors. The challenging weather posed by the typhoon made it difficult to send rescue aircraft out at the time. The relevant government ministries have said that lessons should be learned and systems improved from this incident to prevent any repeats.

Our thoughts are with the missing seamen and their families. We too at Tide hope that some survivors will be found.

Events and deals

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

• Hong Kong Book Fair 2022

The book fair is back! Now in its 32nd installment, the book fair is the best place to get all your readable needs for the coming year. This year’s theme, as kind of expected, also celebrates Hong Kong’s 25th Anniversary of returning to China - “Reading the World: Stories of Hong Kong”.

When: 20-26 July
Time: Generally around 10am-10pm. Varies by day, check here.
Where: HKCEC
Cost: $10-$25

• New Space Museum Dome Show: "Dinosaurs of Antarctica 3D"

Like dinosaurs? Like Antarctica? Well you’ll love the new 3D Dome show at the Space Museum! From the event itself:

Utilising top-tier computer graphics, the 3D Dome Show "Dinosaurs of Antarctica 3D" reconstructs Antarctica's hidden-greener-past when it was warm and forested with newly-discovered dinosaurs and bug-eyed creatures roaming freely. As we follow the hunt with Cryolophosaurus, the largest known early Jurassic carnivore on Earth, we learn that survival in the prehistoric Antarctica was no easy task.

When: 1 Jul 2022 - 31 Mar 2023
Where: Space Museum
How much: $12 - 32

• 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.

Sign up here using the code HTP22 for 40% off!

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

ANSWER : Ho is in the back row, 5th from the left. In other words, the guy whose button-down jacket pretty much aligns perfectly with Xi’s blue tie.

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