🌊The End of the 7s
🌊The End of the 7s
School punishments should for education - who would have thought
Good evening,
Sorry for the recent lack of Tides (especially for the paid subscribers), some sudden personal life things for myself and our other writers (what are the odds) all came at the same time over the weekend like an actual high tide.
That’s why today’s Tide is extra long to make up for Sunday through to today.
In fact, it’s so long I’ve split the paid High Tide into a separate issue (to be sent out very shortly - subscribe if you want to take a read of all the bonuses!)
As usual, thanks for the continuing support!
— Cyril
On Today’s Tide
Sports |
Rugby 7s: Ozzies take home the cup
Amber Code guests get special seating on last day
COVID | King of Judicial Reviews reviews again
More Sports |
Siobhan wins double crown at swimming world cup
Chu Man-King: Gold medal at world para badminton
Education |
Punishments should be educative - St. Francis Xavier case
Homework should be educative - literally every school
Events
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Ozzies rule!
The long awaited Hong Kong Rugby Sevens finished on Sunday with the Australians being out Fiji in the finals.
Australia hasn’t won the Hong Kong 7s in 35 years, last taking home the cup in 1988 before the professional Rugby circuit as we now know it didn’t even yet exist.
Speaking after the win, Australian coach John Manenti said that most people expected Fiji, the reigning champs, to keep winning "[And] until the last 20 seconds so did I”.
How did Hong Kong do
Hong Kong faced Australia on Friday, losing out 43-0. Hong Kong then went to lose every other game they played: 38-14 against New Zealand, 31-15 against Samoa and 19-17 against Canada in the 9th place semi-finals.
Hong Kong’s final match was for 13th place and lost 17-24 to Japan.
The gov at the 7s
CE John Lee along with other government officialls attended the final day of games on Sunday. Security Chief and former head of police Chris Tang was seen in the infamous South Stand and got some light heckling with people yelling at him to “put on a mask”. Alongside Tang and Lee, FS Paul Chan was also seen.
After Australia’s win, John Lee himself gave them the trophy.
Special seating for ambers
Several travellers coming to HK were shocked to find that not having quarantine does not mean free access to everything - only when arriving at HK Stadium did some tourists realize that the amber code would bar them from entry to mass events at the stadium.
One particular visitor, a Mr Renier Du Plessis from South Africa caught the public eye after he was interviewed standing outside the stadium with an amber code. Him and his friends had never visited Hong Kong and came only for the Sevens. Unaware of the amber code regulations, the three could “only eat fast food” for three days.
On Sunday, their amber code expired. Hong Kong Rugby Union President Robbie McRobbie gave them the blue carpet treatment with full refunds and a special suite to enjoy the last day.
Nonetheless, Du Plessis said he might not visit Hong Kong again in the short term.
COVID in Hong Kong
Compulsory Testing locations: 47
King of Judicial Reviews Reviews Again
After losing his twice-appealed case against Health Sec Lo Chung-Mau’s annuling of 20,000 vaccine exemptions, the King of JR Kwok Cheung-Kin is now challenging the government on the legality of LeaveHomeSafe and the whole Vaccine Pass system itself.
He argued that all the COVID rules got its legal power from the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance were set up when the disease treated as an outbreak to protect public health. However, the disease, as Kwok argues, is now a pandemic and not an outbreak. Therefore, the very regulations empowered by the Ordinance now contravene the Ordinance.
More sports
Just because couldn’t score anything at the 7s despite being home pitch doesn’t mean HK is bad at sports!
Siobhan 2 x Triple Crown Champ
Olympian Siobhan Haughey once again made waves with her latest victory at the FINA world cup in Indianapolis.
The world cup took place at three legs in Berlin, Toronto and Indianapolis. Siobhan won gold at womens’ 100m, and 200m at all three stops earning her two ‘Triple Crowns’.
In total she got 7 golds and and a bronze across the three legs.
Secretary for Sports and Culture, Kevin Yeung, said that Siobhan has told a ‘good story’ of Hong Kong, adding “we are thrilled and so proud of her accomplishment”.
Chu Man-King: Gold para-badminton
Para-badminton player Chu Man-King also earned Hong Kong a gold medal over the weekend at the BWF World Para Badminton World Championships in Tokyo.
He won the gold in singles against Englishman Jack Shephard; Chu also won bronze in doubles alongside Wong Chun Yim.
Cho, who has a rare genetic disorder that stopped him from growing taller has earned several gold medals at Para Badminton games in the past and a silver at the 2020 Paralympic Games.
Events and deals
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For more local events, check out yesterday’s High Tide.
Punishment should help students, not be punitive
Secretary for Education Christine Choi has spoken out against St. Francis Xavier’s decision to suspend several students on account of missing a flag raising ceremony.
Last month, St. Francis Xavier’s School, Tsuen Wan suspended 14 students for three days. The Vice Principal personally gave the students a dressing down, saying they disrespected the flag and violated the National Anthem and Flag laws, and possibly even the National Security Law.
In an radio interview, Choi said that schools should not ‘overreact’ towards issues of national security on campus. She said that national education in schools is meant to teach them about the importance of national security.
"The disciplines are not meant to punish students but help them better understand the national anthem and flag”, said Choi.
She added that better guidelines will be given to teachers to improve their understanding of the law and how to discipline students without going OTT.
Need a refresher on St Francis’ case? Check out our previous Tide coverage
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