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Society

Vaccine pass kicks in at public venues

From today, visitors to government revenues and 23 categories of premises, including restaurants, malls, supermarkets, and wet markets must scan the Leave Home Safe app.  The policy applies to everyone aged 12 years and above. The app sounds an alarm if the phone does not show proof of vaccination. Staff at these premises are then required to inform the visitors or ask for proof of exemption. Chan Chui-san, 58, thought it was cumbersome to use the vaccine pass.  "The restaurant needs to scan my QR code again after I have scanned  the "Leave Home Safe" app, but the scanning equipment in some restaurants are not sensitive, and they wasted my time," Chan said. The scheme will be phased in so that people have ample time to receive a second or third dose of the vaccine. But from 30 April, people aged 18 or above must show at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on their vaccination passes. Premises are divided into two categories for implementation of the scheme, namely “active checking” and “passive checking” premises. At “passive checking” premises, such as shopping malls and department stores, patrons do not need to show their vaccine passes upon entry, but law enforcement officers will conduct spot checks.  There are exceptions, for example, people who visit restaurants just to pick up takeaways or retrieve items, or are being tested or vaccinated, and receiving essential government services. People who cannot take the Covid-19 vaccine because of  health reasons may be exempted for  3 to 6 months but they need to present a certificate issued by a doctor. Jessie Wong is not vaccinated because she believed her allergies make her unsuitable, but her doctor would not give her an exemption certificate. "I can only plan for getting injections now," she said.  The president of …

Society

Five highlights from Hong Kong Budget Address 2022-23

In response to the fifth wave of outbreak in Hong Kong, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po unveiled today’s 2022-23 Budget online, a first for the city. Here are a few highlights of his speech: 1. Important figures The government’s total revenue is estimated to be HK$715.9 billion, a 3.3% increase compared with the previous year, while expenditures will increase 15.5% to HK$807.3 billion, Chan said.  Hong Kong will have an HK$18.9 billion surplus for 2021-22, Chan said, rather than the expected HK$101.6 billion deficit.  Fiscal reserves are expected to be HK$946.7 billion by the end of March. 2. Tax The rates of profits tax and salaries tax will remain unchanged in view of the current economic situation, Chan said. The government will also continue to waive up to HK$10,000 of salaries tax and tax under personal assessment. “With the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic, businesses and individuals are generally under considerable financial pressure,” he said.  3. Progressive rating system A progressive rating system for domestic properties will be introduced to reflect the "affordable users pay" principle.  For properties with a rateable value of HK$550,000 or less, rates will remain uncharged at the present level of 5%  Property owners will pay 8% for a rateable value up to HK$800,00 and 12% over that. Chan said this will affect about 42,000 local properties, accounting for around 2% of private real estate, but will bring an increase of about $760 million in annual government revenue. 4. Anti-virus measure Chan added about HK$22 billion to the Food and Health Bureau to strengthen Covid-19 testing work, produce rapid antigen test kits and provide additional support for the Hospital Authority. 5. Green city The government will inject HK$200 million into the Green Tech Fund to build a liveable and green city and HK$1.5 …

People

Cross-border drivers stuck in quarantine, driving up fresh food prices

Fresh food prices in Hong Kong soared due to the increasing number of cross-border truckers undergoing compulsory 3-week quarantine, disrupting the fresh food supply chain. As of yesterday, 35 cross-border drivers have either tested positive or preliminary positive for Covid-19 at Shenzhen Bay Port, according to Shenzhen’s checkpoint office, scaling down the human power for transporting fresh food from mainland to Hong Kong. Around 300 to 400 drivers who were considered as close contacts are isolated, said Cheung Yuk-fai, representative from the Hong Kong-Guangdong Transportation Drivers and Employees Association in a RTHK programme yesterday.  The cross-border truck drivers are responsible for transporting fresh produce from the mainland to Hong Kong. “Less than 50 workers remain working,” Cheung added.  Ada Chan, the owner of a stall at On Tai Market in Kwun Tong, said the vegetable price doubled or tripled from the previous days in order to make a balance. “The transportation fee was raised from HK$10 to HK$80. Of course I have to raise the vegetable price,” said Chan. Hong Kong receives 92 per cent of vegetables, 94 per cent of fresh pork and 97 per cent of live freshwater fish from the mainland, according to the Food and Health Bureau.  “I would prefer buying more cured products and frozen food since I am afraid the fresh food will be insufficient one day. The vegetable price is already expensive for me now,” said Leung Yuk-yee, a customer in the supermarket of On Tai Estate at Kwun Tong.  Chinese green cabbage was sold for HK$6.60 per kilogram at the beginning of the month. It escalated to HK$21.70 as of Feb. 12, according to the Vegetable Marketing Organisation. “The government could give immediate subsidies to help poorer families, it may be hard for some of them to afford the food price,” said …

Health & Environment

Ontario restaurants to resume dine-in

Dining in at restaurants in Ontario will be allowed from today at 50% capacity following a 25-day suspension because of Covid restrictions.  Customers are required to scan a QR code that shows whether they have been vaccinated in order to enter restaurants and other businesses, including theatres and gyms. Unvaccinated people will only be allowed if they can provide proof of medical exemption.  Ontario premier Doug Ford announced on Jan 20 that restaurants, gyms, movie theatres, museums and gaming halls would reopen this Monday as the Covid-19 situation shows signs of improvement. The limit for social gatherings would also increase from 5 to 10 people indoors and from 10 to 25 people outdoors. “Percent positivity has now dropped to 15.9%, new admissions to hospitals are starting to slow, and patients are spending a lot less time in the hospital when admitted. And our workforce is stabilizing, with more people coming back to work than calling in sick,” Ford said. He also said there’s evidence to show that the measures to blunt transmission of Omicron are working, adding that the government would gradually ease public health measures in February.  In early January, with the increase in the number of Covid-19 hospitalizations, dine-in at restaurants and cinemas, gyms and museums were suspended in Ontario. Stephy Yip, an exchange student from Hong Kong in Kingston, welcomed the lifting of restrictions. “I'm really looking forward to eating at the restaurants. It is more convenient because I don't have to walk home for lunch during class anymore," the 22-year-old said. Another student in Kingston, Dasha Sylenko also said she supports the reopening of restaurants and gyms.  “I am very excited about the reopening. I can’t wait for the gyms to open,” she said.  Ontario reported 2,012 cases of Covid-19 and 16 hospitalizations on Thursday, compared …

Health & Environment

Covid-19 vaccination for children starts

  Covid-19 vaccination for children in Hong Kong aged 5-11 years started yesterday.  They can get the Sinovac jabs offered at 12 Community Vaccination Centers all over the city. Primary and secondary students can also get the vaccine at five Student Health Service Centres. The two doses should be given 28 days apart.  Legal guardians must accompany children to the vaccine centres in order to sign a consent form. But some parents are hesitant. Lam Wing-yan has two children aged five and 12 years old. She would not consider vaccinating her children at this moment. “I am not sure if there will be any side effects. I still need more data before getting my children vaccinated,” Lam said . Theng Minxuan, a 16-year old student has had her first dose of BioNTech, but she is not getting the second dose. “Many of my classmates developed serious side effects after receiving the second dose of vaccination. I am scared so I don’t want to get it,” she said. From February 9, reservations will start for the BioNTech vaccine and the jabs will be available at three Children Community Vaccination Centres. The two doses should be given 12 weeks apart to minimize the chance of developing myocarditis, according to the Chairman of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong, Chui Chun-ming who spoke on RTHK on Jan.21.  Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that developed the mRNA vaccine such as BioNTech, has conducted trials in children aged six months to 12 years. It reported that two doses of mRNA vaccine, given more than 21 days apart are safe and effective for children.   In Taiwan, 23 people aged 12 to 17 years developed myocarditis after receiving BioNTech since November 3, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center. A week later, the Center suspended the …

Education University of Hong Kong derecognises student union, keeps HK$ 9 million reserve

  • 2022-01-21

The Education University of Hong Kong announced yesterday it will derecognise its student union. It also said it would keep the union’s HK$9 million reserve. Representatives of the former Student’s Union of the Education University bow to express gratitude towards their supporters in a screenshot of yesterday’s press conference. The university sent an email to teachers and students stating the Student’s Union has governance problems and fails to represent students. Representatives of the Student’s Union said in a press conference yesterday it did not deprive or exclude any student from applying for membership and elected and appointed officers in accordance with established instructions and procedures. In 2016, the university revised the union constitution, resulting in a decrease of members. The university said the union has been run by a temporary administrative committee for more than four years. The representatives questioned the university’s justification and legal basis to confiscate the reserves, also asking why the university did not raise concerns in previous years. “The HK$ 9 million reserve of the Student Union should belong to the students. I hope the university will discuss with us how the money will be managed,” said Yeung Yat-ming, the president of the Student’s Union. The union is now prohibited from using the name of the university, collecting membership fees, governing campus facilities or managing its university online accounts and services. “The university is abusing its power. Without the student union, there are fewer chances for us to express our opinions,” said Jocelyn Kong, a 20-year-old student at the Education University. The Student Affairs Office, which will take up the function of the union, “obviously couldn’t represent the students and deliver our concerns to the university,” said Kong. The Finance Office of the Education University said it will keep the union’s HK$9 million reserve in custody. …

Society

Edward Leung Tin-kei released after six years in prison

Edward Leung Tin-kei, a former spokesman for Hong Kong Indigenous, was freed from prison after serving four years for his role in the 2016 clashes in Mong Kok . Karmen Li and Jayde Cheung documented Leung’s route to “freedom” and recapped his story before jail.

Society

COVID-19 quarantine and travel restrictions challenge Hong Kong’s domestic helpers

Ybañez’s 68-year old mother, living in Cebu City in the Philippines, was hospitalized for high blood pressure and diabetes for two months before her death. Ybañez, 40, who has been working in Hong Kong for almost three years, would have to quarantine in both the Philippines and upon return in Hong Kong for five weeks in total.  Employers of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong are required to pay for one trip home for each helper every two years. In response to the pandemic, the Immigration Department mandates that prospective employers sign the undertaking of the employer document agreeing to pay for their employees’ Covid tests and all quarantine expenses upon entry to Hong Kong.  “My employer couldn't afford it," said Ybañez. "Even if I had gone, they could only wait for one week before burial and I had to do two weeks of quarantine in the Philippines, so it was impossible to see her.” Low availability of flights and quarantine hotel rooms, travel bans and vaccination requirements have made travel in and out of the city challenging for foreign domestic helpers.  In April, Hong Kong banned flights from the Philippines, and in June this year another flight ban extended to Indonesia, significantly impacting the wait time for inbound employees. Both these bans were lifted in August.  In September, the government opened Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre on Lantau Island to helpers who are fully vaccinated with non-Hong Kong available vaccinations for 21 days quarantine, allocating nearly 800 rooms with a price capped at HK$500 per night. Helpers vaccinated with either Pfizer/BioNTech or Sinovac can also quarantine in hotels upon their arrival.  The pandemic has doubled the number of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong seeking help from local NGO Mission For Migrant Workers this year, the NGO said. More than …

Confusion and complaints as LeaveHomeSafe app becomes compulsory

  • 2021-12-09

From today, scanning the contact tracing app LeaveHomeSafe is mandatory for entry into all restaurants, gyms, pubs and some other public venues. Failure to comply will result in a $5000 fine. People over 65 years, under 15 years and those with disabilities are exempted under the government’s policy. That’s raising questions on why these groups don’t need to be traced.   At LokFu wet market and some restaurants in the district, the QR code for scanning LeaveHomeSafe was not displayed. Some restaurants continued to provide paper forms. “I think the exemption is a kind of discrimination, “ said Tsz-wai Kwok, 27, who works for an educational institution. He is worried that the government will use the LeaveHomeSafe app to collect personal data. The government had denied doing so earlier.   Wing-long Poon, 20, a student from the Hong Kong Baptist University said it is unreasonable that elderly people and children are exempted from using the app.   “It is still kind of weird, what if I lost my phone and I cannot scan the QR code? ” she said.   Poon has taught her grandmother to use the LeaveHomeSafe app but has found that to be challenging.   “Elderly people are not familiar with smart devices. If the app is compulsory for them, they may not be able to eat out,” she added.   Li Chung-wai, 42, who buys groceries in the wet market everyday, said the policy is meaningless.   “Elderly people are the most dangerous infection group. I want to know why they do not need to scan QR code before getting in the premises,” she pointed out.   Government figures show that vaccination rate in Hong Kong is lowest among people aged 80 years and above. “About 16% of confirmed COVID-19 cases are elderly people, and they …

Society

Secretary for Education denounces "lying flat" trend, emphasizes values education

Secretary for Education, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, denounced the “lying flat” trend, the attitude of doing nothing popular among young people in the mainland, and highlighted the importance of values education in Hong Kong schools in an online post yesterday The “lying flat” movement started in April when a post on the Chinese popular website Baidu titled “Lying Flat Is Justice” went viral. It  refers to young people who strive for nothing more than what is essential for survival.  “The recent trend of "lying flat" is even more worrying. A negative life attitude can easily cause depression and hinder social development in the long run,” Yueng wrote in his post. “I am grieved for that, just the same feeling as many parents and teachers who love those kids.” Yeung also said the government will soon release the curriculum framework for the recently proposed values education, which includes moral and ethical education, civic education, and national education.   The education bureau said promoting activities related to Chinese history will allow students to learn about the essence of Chinese culture, absorb traditional wisdom, and cultivate moral sentiment.  “We must work together to promote values ​​education rooted in Chinese culture together and support students to build positive thinking,” the online article said.                                       “I think the new curriculum has a political agenda and I hope the teachers could be professional enough to tackle this,” said Lau, a local high school teacher who said he is responsible for executing the values education curriculum at his school. He requested anonymity over concerns about his work.  In June, Yeung told the Legislative Council that the bureau will send teachers to mainland universities to enhance their understanding of the nation's development. Teachers will also attend training courses related to national affairs, the Basic Law and the National Security Law.  The …