🌊Suspended for having breakfast

The exemptions stay (for now)

Good morning,

I’ve been helping ex-EiC Jasmine with some research into UK influencers, and it’s made me painfully aware that my social media desperately needs work on - especially since I do so many that rely on social media exposure.

This is an issue for both myself and HT, so I’d like to ask again (as we do every few months) that if you know someone who would like to help with HT’s socials, to please send them over.

Students, new grads absolutely more than welcome!

— Cyril

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On Today’s Tide

• Politics | 14 students suspended for breakfast during flag raising

• COVID | US Sanctions “barbaric” - John Lee

• Transport | PSA: $20 fine for old octopus cards

• Events

Behind the paywall:

• More politics |

  • Article 23: HK to take more time before activating

• Boat saga | The boat stays: John Lee

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Suspended for having breakfast

St. Francis Xavier’s School in Tsuen Wan suspended 3 students last Wednesday (5 Oct) for ‘disprespecting’ the flag rasing. And what were the students doing that caused such disrespect they were taken out of school for most of the week?

Having breakfast.

A statement from the school said that they valued the “abiding by the laws and values education on respecting the national anthem and the flag-raising ceremony”.

Some students said that they didn’t even hear the anthem and was only told half an hour later that they could have breached the National Security or the National Anthem Laws. They worried that a serious crime like that might impat their University applications in the future.

The EDB has asked the school for a report.

In related news, this story is like the only thing on the school’s English wikipedia.

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COVID in Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Govt announces that it will suspend the arrangement for refusing the acceptance of #COVID19Vaccination medical exemption certificates suspected of abuse in issuance

news.gov.hkJab certificate invalidation on holdThe Government announces that it will suspend the arrangement for refusing the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination medical exemption certificates suspected of abuse in issuance.

COVID-19 in Hong Kong

• New cases: 4656 (373 imported)

• Total cases: 1,811,344

• New deaths: 9

• Total deaths: 10,237

• Compulsory Testing locations: 66

The exemptions stay for now

The High Court has ordered a hold on the annulment of 20,000 vaccine exemptions certificates after the ‘King of Judicial Reviews’ Kwok Cheuk-Kin was given leave to argue his case next Thursday.

Kwok was happy with the court’s decision saying that the seven doctors have not yet been found guilty, and so the patients who went to them can’t either.

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$20 fine for outdated Octopus

Users will be charged $20 per year for not replacing their out of date Octopus cards starting a year from 15 Nov.

The replacement scheme was started in 2017 to encourage users to replace Octopus cards over 15 years old, but no fine has been established till now. The fine will take $20 off stored value inside the Octopus once a year until there’s no more money to take.

Users will be alerted by three ‘doods’ when they use their Octopus. If you use the Octopus app, you’ll also get emails and messages reminding you to replace your card.

The scheme kicks in on 15 Nov, meaning that the first fines will be given in Nov 2023.

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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

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