🌊Quarantine shortened for China, HK? Maybe
🌊Quarantine shortened for China, HK? Maybe
What else is maybe? President Xi. ARE YOU COMING OR NOT???
Good morning.
Hi. It’s me. I’m back finally from the dead. I’ve also, in the lead up to the 1 Jul handover ceremony, made it back to Birmingham! (Those two things may or may not actually be related). Took me a missed flight, and two days with my sister in a wifi-less basement (no joke) but I’m back and catching up on emails.
Hong Kong has better transport. I hope President Xi likes the transport.
~ Cyril
On Today’s Tide
1 Jul |
Schroedinger’s President Xi visit
League of Soc. Democrats won’t hold demonstration
High security around HK regardless of Xi’s visit
COVID | Possible shortening of hotel quarantine
Transport |
Live tracking extends to 453 minibus routes
Special updates for Palace Museum Opening & 1 Jul
Events
Behind the paywall:
Politics otherwise not on 1 Jul |
Carrie Lam to leave social media
Two imprisoned for anti-COVID sedition
Economy | Wall St, Asian markets, FTSE rally after China announces COVID loosening
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1 Jul - Hong Kong on high alert
Police have started strengthening security around Wanchai where the 1 Jul celebrations and the inauguration of John Lee as the 6th CE will be held. The guest of honour President Xi is said to be attending in person, which obviously necessitates the need for high security. Just one problem…
There’s still no official confirmation that he’s coming.
Messages have been changing daily as to whether the President will attend in person or virtually. Regina Ip said that it’s “highly likely” he will come as it would “place a lot of importance” on Hong Kong’s 25th handover anniversary.
Nonetheless, police have said they are “duty bound” to protect President Xi if he does come. This includes setting up a “core security” zone around HKCEC and West Kowloon station. Victoria Harbour will be a no-fly zone, and drones are banned from the whole of Hong Kong - see the transport section later for traffic disruptions (there are a lot).
No protest from LSD
Meanwhile the League of Social Democrats have said they will not host any demonstrations this year. This comes after volunteers were questioned by National Security Police.
When asked by the press whether police actions intimidated the LSD into not holding a demonstration, Assistant Commission Lui Kam-Ho said “We fully respect the rights of people, the freedom of expression, staging protest, public meetings".
COVID in Hong Kong
New cases: 1,533
Total cases: 1,241,435
New deaths: 1
Total deaths: 9,399
Can I come home now?
The question on every expat or holidaymaker’s mind - can I go back without 7 days in an expensive hotel is finally-kinda-sort-of-possibly-not-necessarily-not answered!
Sources from the government seem to be reflecting views given in recent days by medical professionals on shortening mandatory hotel quarantine.
This will in the interim be replaced by a ‘5+2’ scheme where one will quarantine for 5 days at a hotel, followed by 2 days at home.
Both incoming CE John Lee and his new head of health Lo Chung-Mau have said they will put reducing COVID restrictions on incoming travelers as top priority.
Transport: The good and the ugly
The Good
Live tracking for Green Minibuses have expanded from 391 to 453.
See here for a full list of all lines covered.
The remaining approximately 100 routes not currently covered will be trackable by the end of the year.
The Ugly
Well not so much ugly, rather just inconvenient for the normal person.
From 2am 29 June (so like 5 hours ago) to 2pm 1 Jul, a bunch of traffic restrictions will take place to ensure safety around the venue:
Closure of roads around HKCEC and North Wanchai
Most on-street parking in Wanchai will be suspended
Edinburgh Place Pier in Central will also be suspended from 30 June
Expo East Bus Terminal (including taxis) will be suspended. Buses will either stop earlier, or be re-routed to Admiralty East.
Exhibition MTR Station will be suspended
Events and deals
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藝穗會 「邊渡四十年」混合媒介展覽 Fringe Club "Be 40" Mixed-Media Exhibition
Be 40 is a collection celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hong Kong’s Fringe Club, which has announced that it is extending the exhibition to 30 June! Featured works include art belonging to the club from 1982 until the present, along with the art of Frog King who has had their work shown at the 2011 Venice Biennale.
When: 16 June - 30 June
Where: 藝穗會 Hong Kong Fringe Club. Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central.
The exhibition is also available to view online.
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.
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