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🌊Next up is...Season 57 of the pandemic

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

🌊Next up is...Season 57 of the pandemic

Plot twists. Constant, unwanted renewals. When's the long-awaited series finale coming? Stay tuned.

Harbour Times
Mar 21, 2022
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🌊Next up is...Season 57 of the pandemic

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

Good morning,

And I (unironically) hope your Monday’s off to a good start. Hi everyone, new recruit here. I’m Charlotte, and I’ll be bringing you this morning’s edition of High Tide :) Hopefully along with a little more serotonin from the image below (see Fig. 1) before we dive into today’s news.

Image via Gaby Ruit on Pinterest.

-Charlotte

Note: Substack has made some changes to the way emails are sent out, and we unfortunately messed up (again) with the tech. Apologies to everyone for sending out today’s High Tide late. Hope you still find the information helpful!


On Today’s Tide:

  1. Economy | Trouble projected for the first quarter due to 5th wave

  2. COVID-19 |

    • Subsidies for cleaning workers

    • Vaccine Pass updates

    • Restriction updates still pending

  3. Culture | HK Peak Tram’s glow-up and anticipated return

  4. Events

Behind the paywall:

  1. Crime | “Doctored” vaccine exemption certificates

  2. Education | More than Zoom fatigue: impacts of virtual learning for neurodivergent children

  3. China |

    • USA’s plans for China

    • Marriage is a declining social construct…

    • US$275 billion infrastructural developments in Xinjiang

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


Unfavorable prognosis for HK’s economy

Paul Chan Mo-Po, HK’s finance chief, predicted “negative growth in the first quarter of the year, with the unemployment rate further deteriorating rapidly” for the economy. We’ve actually hit a new 5-month record high of unemployment rates at 4.5%, though thankfully not quite at the 7.2% all-time high of Feb last year.

He added that supporting small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) was key to improving this rather grim outlook, with SMEs accounting for 98% of the total enterprises in HK.

And the prescription includes … an SME rent deferral scheme, as well as a relaunched Employment Support Scheme directed at the 1.1 - 1.3 million employees eligible (both over 3 months).

HK$8,000 will be given to each employee, but it is unclear whether this plan will be extended for longer.

Hopefully, this and the consumption voucher scheme available starting next month (total $10,000 per resident) will aid a rebound for HK’s economy.


COVID in HK

Twitter avatar for @tripperhead
🇭🇰 5th 👋 Aaron @tripperhead
COVID-19 cases 🇭🇰, March 20th: • New reported local PCR+ cases: 5,872 • New reported RAT+ cases: 8,273 • Local total: 14,145 • Imported: 4 • Total cases: 1,047,690 • Local cases 5th wave: 1,034,157
8:36 AM ∙ Mar 20, 2022
33Likes12Retweets

Coronavirus in Hong Kong

  • New cases: 14,149 (new low! 加油!)

  • Total cases: 1,047,690

  • New deaths: 246

  • Total deaths: 5,896

Subsidies for cleansing workers

Under the Anti-Epidemic Fund, the HK Gov will provide a monthly allowance of HKD$2,000 over 5 months to each frontline and security worker for their pandemic-combatting efforts. The estimated expenditure of $3 billion is projected to help around 180,000 people.

Vaccine Pass requirements pushed forward

The Stage 3 Vaccine Pass implementation has been shifted up from June 30 to May 31, signifying a few important changes you might want to know. Those of age 12 and above (except certain special groups) now must have received the third booster shot by the end of May to receive those coveted Vaccine Pass benefits (being able to go to supermarkets, restaurants, live some semblance of normal life, etc.).

From May 31 onwards, the grace period to receive the 3rd dose will be shortened to 6 months. In other words, to continue with the Vaccine Pass the third dose must be received within 6 months of getting the second dose. Yay for mild/moderate fatigue, headache, and muscle pain!!

Get your booking here.

Meanwhile…update on restrictions still pending

The likening of these past few years to the horribly written TV show from literal hell is perhaps an overextended metaphor - but we’re still waiting on the update for restrictions potentially being eased; coming Monday at the earliest. Sit tight.


The Peak Tram’s revival

Yes, that thing that’s been rattling in the background for most of our childhoods is making a comeback. The 134-year-old tram is said to make a resurgence. Not after the traditional 3 days, no. But it’s had a recent successful test run after 8 months of renovations to showcase that shiny, new, still-recognizable exterior.

Twitter avatar for @MulhollandLynne
Lynne Mulholland @MulhollandLynne
The newly unveiled 6th generation Peak Tram, pictured on a test run ascending Victoria Peak yesterday 🇭🇰 Photo credit Simon Nicol
Image
1:22 AM ∙ Mar 6, 2022
302Likes36Retweets

A projected reopening date hasn’t been revealed yet, although it is said to happen in the summer. Perfect for tourist season — oh, wait. Well, the HK public can enjoy it then at least. Fingers crossed.


Events and deals

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

  • 10% off the Cellar: La Cabane x Harbour Times

Our friends over at La Cabane have kindly given all High Tide subscribers 10% off everything on their online store - high quality wines, cheeses and wines-and-cheeses accessories.

lacabanehk
A post shared by La Cabane - Natural Wine HK (@lacabanehk)

Use the code HIGHONWINE10 at www.lacabane.hk to stock up your wine cellar today.

  • HKU COVID and Mental Health Survey

Wanna become a statistic? I sure do! HKU is running a voluntary online mental health survey till April, trying to find if there is any (yes) relationship between COVID and HK’s mental health problems.

Twitter avatar for @harbourtimes
Harbour Times @harbourtimes
Stolen/borrowed from @tripperhead Important survey for everyone to fill in - Chinese and English available
Image
6:30 PM ∙ Mar 19, 2022

Supporting Ukraine from the comfort of your couch

This isn’t really an event per se, but we thought our very internationally-minded audience might be wondering how to get involved with humanitarian efforts. Luckily, you can literally do it by drinking beer, eating good Ukrainian food and calling our good friends at the Polish Consulate General.

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

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