🌊Xi x Putin 2: Kazakhstan Boogaloo

$8 billion spent on COVID testing

Good morning.

Spent the evening looking at Queen Liz memes with a friend I haven’t seen in a while. Might go to pay respects at the consulate on Friday.

b e a n s 🇯🇲 @_joshmcintyre_

“DIANA OPEN UP THESE PEARLY GATES RIGHT NOW!!”

Might print out some memes down in honour of Her Majesty.

She would’ve wanted that.

No Context Brits @NoContextBrits

— Cyril

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On Today’s Tide

• Society | Crostini closure prompts customs investigation

• COVID | $8 billion used for COVID testing over 3 years

• Updates |

  • MIRROR dancer in stable condition

  • Air pollution remains dangerously high

  • Protestors should get second chance: Paul Yip

Behind the paywall:

• International | President Xi lands in Kazakhstan for SCO meeting

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Crushed Crostini Cops Customs Scrutiny

I’ll get Mar to put this on that heaven meme. I guess.

The mid-range coffee and cake chain Crostini closed unexpectedly yesterday with little word of warning to their customers. Crostini apologized only the night before on Tuesday via a social media post where they said that the buisness environment in Hong Kong had become untenable.

While F&B joints closing as a result of the pandemic is not anything new, Crostini drew the ire of Customs who said they might have violated the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

This comes after several customers complained to authorities that the lack of warning meant they could not spend their gift cards and coupons. In addition, the Eating Establishment Employees General Union said that at least one employee has not been paid.

However, the financial issues allegedly stretch back months, with owner and founder Huang Guanghui saying that despite borrowing $80 million to pay off rent, his stores were chased by baillifs.

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COVID in Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk

The Centre for Health Protection says it is looking into 7,418 additional locally acquired #COVID19 cases, of which 2,139 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 5,279 via rapid antigen tests

news.gov.hkHK reports 7.4k local virus casesThe Centre for Health Protection says it is looking into 7,418 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 2,139 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 5,279 via rapid antigen tests.

COVID-19 in Hong Kong

• New cases: 7579 (161 imported)

• Total cases: 1,675,709

• New deaths: 10

• Total deaths: 9830

• Compulsory Testing locations: 65

$8 billion on COVID tests

When I wrote this first, I had misread the reports as being $8 million, which would’ve been insane enough but the more insane amount of $7 to 8 billion have been spent on COVID tests.

These estimates from Headline Daily who asked the CHP about the number of tests given out on government expense at community testing locations, hotels, mobile collection stations etc.

The Bureau confirmed that in April, around $5.8 had been spent and that overall around 37 million tests had been done since the pandemic began.

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General updates

• Mo Li in a stable condition

Injured MIRROR dancer Mo Li is confirmed to now be in a stable condition, however his motor functions are still impacted.

His father, Pastor Li said that although many had tried to donate, no donations will be taken until government investigations are complete. "Before the responsible parties are properly decided, all donations would be too early. Please allow us to politely refuse the good intentions with a thankful and humble heart”, said Pastor Li in a Facebook post.

PCCW Chariman Richard Li has vowed to personally donate $10 million to Mo’s family. PCCW is the owner of ViuTV who owns MIRROR.

• Pollution levels continue to be high

The EPD gave another warning today warning of ‘Serious’ levels of pollution until next Tuesday. This is due to a dry continential stream across South China, and crazy high sunlight which prompts the creation of more greenhouse gases.

I walked 20 minutes to Yau Tong for a PCR test today and I can confirm that the air and heat really want me dead.

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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

• Official media partner: 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.

• Ukrainian Cinema: Contemporary filmmaking @ The Goethe Institut

“Fear sows political bigotry, rumours turn into conspiracy theories, cultural fronts harden” – for these reasons The Goethe Institut is hosting a series of films by Ukrainian filmmakers to support local cultural creators and explore Ukrainian culture together.

Five films will be shown over the course of September including The Tribe (Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy), Atlantis (Valentyn Vasyanovych) and The Rain Will Never Stop (Alina Gorlova)

Find all times and dates here.
And book your tickets directly from Broadway Cinematheque here.
Look under the ‘bc Sunday’ special programme when booking!

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