Good morning.

Today is Day 1000 of COVID in Hong Kong - and of course, COVID is still a big threat here. Massive threat.

Anyway, Tripperhead did this cool thing which is a brilliant celebration.

Aaron Busch @tripperhead

HAPPY 1000th DAY OF THE PANDEMIC IN HONG KONG! 🥳🎉🍾🪩 To celebrate, 1000 rows of data in 30 seconds

7:21 AM ∙ Oct 18, 2022

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109Likes18Retweets

— Cyril

On Today’s Tide

• Environment | Disposable Plastic Ban Brought Forward

• COVID | Reverse quarantine for mainland travel still needs work

• Education | New CUHK emblem gets mixed reviews

• Events

Behind the paywall:

• Politics | John Lee to give policy address tomorrow - where are we now

• Something about Parliament

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Disposable Plastic Ban Brought Forward

The government has announced that the ban on disposable plastics in F&B will be sped up by two years from 2025 to 2023.

The ban is set to cover the sale and use of disposable polystyrene tableware as well as disposable plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates. Restaurants will initially be barred from providing these for dine-in customers before also being banned from takeaway services.

In a paper to LegCo yesterday, the Environment and Ecology Bureau said that “at present, most suppliers are already able to provide non-plastic alternatives” - and therefore already fulfilling the criteria of what would have been the first stage of the regulations originally set to start in 2025.

As such, instead of the first stage will be brought forward to 2023, while the second stage remains in 2025.

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COVID in Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating 4,566 additional locally acquired #COVID19 cases, of which 1,128 were identified through #NucleicAcidTests and 3,438 via #RapidAntigenTests

news.gov.hk4.5k local virus cases detectedThe Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating 4,566 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,128 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 3,438 via rapid antigen tests.

12:43 PM ∙ Oct 18, 2022

COVID-19 in Hong Kong

• New cases: 4954 (388 imported)

• Total cases: 1,848,163

• New deaths: 7

• Total deaths: 10,285

• Compulsory Testing locations: 48

Reverse Quarantine still needs work

‘Reverse Quarantine’ plans for traveling to the Mainland are still in the works, said John Lee yesterday at a press conference. He said that whatever is planned must not impact on China’s anti-COVID work.

Currently, they are still ironing out the threshold for CT numbers, how to organise close looped systems so that Hong Kong quarantine fulfills China’s 7+3 regulations.

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CUHK New Emblem Gets Mixed Reviews

Several government legislators (who happen to be CUHK alumni) expressed shock at the new CUHK emblem, saying that they had not been consulted about the changes, nor have many others.

The University says they spent the past year talking with over 2000 stakeholders on the changes.

Priscilla Leung, from the Business and Professionals Alliance, said that the emblem is “even more important than changes of personnel at the university” and that “we see that apart from the council, the alumni and many of the stakeholders are completely unaware of the change”.

In addition, Tommy Cheung, a member of the University council said he only found out about the change when he was invited to a ceremony of its unveiling.

Lawmaker Edward Lau expressed similar concerns, saying that "Nobody knows anything about this. I am planning to hold a meeting with the school council”.

The changes keep the general shape of the old emblem, but has a big change in colour that departs significantly from the original. Well…instead of having colours split down the middle….it’s now got one colour…and the other…in other places…

Anyway, here’s a video that explains it pretty well (obviously straight from the lion’s mouth, so take subjective things with a pinch of salt).

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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

• International Ponte Music Festival: Concerto Competition (Grand Finale)

To showcase the power of young local music talent, Ponte is delighted to present to eight finalists from their International Ponte Music Festival: Concerto Competition, held early this year.

We welcome you to this Grand Finale and witness these rising stars to make their debut with an orchestra.

When: 22nd October 2022 (Saturday); 19:30 – 22:00 pm
Where: Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, HKAPA
Cost: From $180-$220

• Music Roundabout: Sound of the Netherlands

Need another concert in your life? Ponte Orchestra is collaborating with local harmonica soloist Timothy Tang to showcase famous Dutch music from the Baroque, to folk and even modern pop. This performance is supported by Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Netherlands Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao.

When: 23nd October 2022 (Sunday); 20:00 – 22:00 pm
Where: Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, HKAPA
Cost: From $180-$480

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