🌊Under-15 suicide rates go up 89%

The air is literally trying to kill us

Sep 11

Good morning.

Hello friends. Guess who’s back doing Tide at inhospital hours.

They say the last gas lit lights in Hong Kong are the Duddel St gaslamps But little do they know, the lights at the Bay Bridge Retreat are also gas lit.

That’s right! It’s me. I’m back in the HKG where fresh air is apparently a health risk!

— Cyril

On Today’s Tide

Environment | The pollution is very bad
COVID |
- COVID might be peaking
- Restaurant income 40-50% lower than last year
Society | 89% increased under-15 suicide rate
Events

Behind the paywall:

Crime |
- Two arrested for illegal fireworks
- $2mil frozen wagyu seized by customs
Politics | Prison wardens teaching national history

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The air is trying to kill us

Fresh air is a health risk isn’t just a quarantine hotel joke…it’s also a threat.

The EPD has recorded higher than usual pollution levels since Friday (10 Sept). Yesterday, recorded levels were at ‘Very High’ or ‘Serious’ on the Air Quality Health Index - a 10 point scale used to measure air pollution levels in Hong Kong. At ‘Very High’ or ‘Serious’, the EPD recommends to “reduce to the minimum outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce to the minimum the time of their stay outdoors”.

The EPD also said that pollution levels will remain high the next few days due to a dry airstream, lack of wind and intense sunlight causing more ozone formation in the Pearl Delta Region.

The weather is also going to stay hot for the next few days until stronger wind comes.

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Centre for Health Protection says it is looking into 8,904 additional locally acquired #COVID19 cases, of which 2,236 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 6,668 via rapid antigen tests

news.gov.hkHK reports 8.9k local virus casesThe Centre for Health Protection says it is looking into 8,904 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 2,236 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 6,668 via rapid antigen tests.

New cases: 9033 (129 imported)
Total cases: 1,651,974
New deaths: 11
Total deaths: 9,799
Compulsory Testing locations: 78

Is the wave finally dying down?

Dr. Chuang confirmed yesterday that there is currently a downward trend with case numbers, but warned that the CHP needs more time to confirm if the wave has truly peaked. They expect the peak to happen in about a week’s time.

Restaurants can’t get enough

President of the Institute of Dining Professionals, Ray Chiu, said yesterday that restaurants are earning on average 30-40% less this mid-autumn compared to last year’s with some earning 50-60% less.

This comes after sudden changes in group gathering regulations caused many diners to cancel reservations, especially those for larger gatherings.

Under-15 suicide rates rocket 89%

New data from the Coroner’s court released on Friday said that there was an increase of 89% in suicides for under-15s between the years 2019-2021 up to 11 recorded deaths last year (0.9/100,000 people in 2019 to 1.7/100,000 people in 2021). The 16-24 age bracket also saw an increase of 8.14% from 8.6/100,000 people in 2020 to 9.3/100,000 in 2021.

The number of under-15 suicides is the highest recorded in Hong Kong.

Professor Yip Siu-Fai from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention said that the number of suicides has “become more concerning during the coronavirus pandemic”.

Yip said that the lack of person-to-person interaction during online schooling has “reduced the time for youngsters to form peer-bonding at school” and noted that while other countries only banned in-person classes as a last resort, Hong Kong used it as a first port of call.

Meanwhile, Kenus Leung, a psychologist from the centre, criticised the transition in and out of online schooling, saying that the constant changes made it difficult for students to focus. She also said that the current half-day classes still had full-day curriculum which caused unnecessary stress to students.

Events and deals

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

Rivers in the City

From 5-18 Sept, the “Rivers in the City” lantern display has giant moons and bird shaped lanterns across both rivers.

Additionally, a workshops on river greening and planting aqueous plants will held from 2-8 Sept at the Jordan Valley site (first come first serve, sign up here - maps to both rivers are also on that link).

Official media partner: ReThink HK returns 5-6 Oct
Sign up here using the code HTP22.

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.