Good morning.
Hello friends. Guess whoâs back doing Tide at inhospital hours.


Thatâs right! Itâs me. Iâm back in the HKG where fresh air is apparently a health risk!
â Cyril
On Todayâs 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 isnât just a quarantine hotel jokeâŠitâs also a threat.
The EPD has recorded higher than usual pollution levels since Friday (10 Sept). Yesterday, recorded levels were at âVery Highâ or âSeriousâ on the Air Quality Health Index - a 10 point scale used to measure air pollution levels in Hong Kong. At âVery Highâ or âSeriousâ, the EPD recommends to âreduce to the minimum outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce to the minimum the time of their stay outdoorsâ.
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.
COVID in Hong Kong


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 weekâs time.
Restaurants canât 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 yearâs 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 Coronerâs 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 âbecome more concerning during the coronavirus pandemicâ.
Yip said that the lack of person-to-person interaction during online schooling has âreduced the time for youngsters to form peer-bonding at schoolâ 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 âRivers in the Cityâ 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 - HKâs biggest and most exciting sustainability conference. This yearâs 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.
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