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After completing the mandatory coronavirus test, passengers on China Eastern flight MU507 from Shanghai, one of the few flights arriving today from mainland China, gradually exited the arrivals hall around 5:30 p.m., reluctantly ready to accept latest quarantine requirements of the Return2HK scheme. "The government did not give us time to respond,'' said Xindy, a passenger on the Shanghai flight who came to work in Hong Kong and will stay in a hotel for her quarantine. "People who do not have a place in Hong Kong have to book hotels to quarantine, but many hotels are fully booked and many don't provide the quarantine service. The time left for us was too short, and the government did not provide any help." The Hong Kong government announced yesterday that due to the sudden increase of coronavirus infections in mainland China, from midnight today (Aug. 5), Hong Kong residents returning from the mainland, except Guangdong Province, are subject to 14-day compulsory quarantine at home under the Return2HK scheme. They are also required to be tested five times for a coronavirus infection during and after the quarantine period. "The previous policy, even if it is urgent, is usually implemented from ‘next Monday.’ It's on short notice this time," said Xindy, who was unhappy with the sudden change and only provided her first name. The new quarantine policy also affects university students arriving from the mainland. Many students who returned to mainland China during summer holiday have to adjust their return plans. "I originally planned to return to Hong Kong after August 20, but now I may go to Shenzhen these days," said Charlotte Wang, an undergraduate film student at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) who is now in Xi'an. "Since I have to either stay in Guangdong for at least 14 days or …

About 10 people lined up at a convenience store outside Tai Wai MTR station this morning, ready to claim their government consumption e-vouchers through their Octopus cards. Eligible people have been receiving the first batch of HK$2000 e-vouchers since yesterday. The second batch of $2000 will be issued in October followed by $1000 in December. Consumers must spend what they have received in order to get the next two rounds of handout. The e-vouchers can be paid through Alipay Hong Kong, Octopus, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK. The payments can be activated online or by tapping the Octopus card at a payment counter. Miss Wong was in the queue in Tai Wai this morning. She planned to use the vouchers to buy a television set. "I don’t mind waiting in line given the discount," she said, "and there are convenience stores everywhere in Hong Kong. So if you really don’t want to line up and wait, you can get the vouchers later." Thomas Tong was shopping for an air conditioner at Fortress in the Festival Walk mall. "I planned to buy an air conditioner, but the vouchers helped me make up my mind sooner," said Mr. Tong. A sales person at an electrical appliance shop told The Young Reporter that the consumption vouchers have really helped business.  Many customers have been visiting his store since the vouchers were issued yesterday and he has seen at least a 40% increase in sales. Some restaurants that accept e-vouchers display a poster outside to attract customers. Simon Wong, Chairman of Hong Kong Japanese Food and Cuisine Association told The Young Reporter that the e-vouchers have brought a10% increase in business since yesterday.  But the manager at Six Up Inn in Kowloon Tong has not seen a significant increase in clientele.  "More …

For the first time, two major jewellery shows in Hong Kong are open to members of the public and held in a hybrid format with a physical exhibition supplemented by an online matching service. The 37th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the 7th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) opened yesterday. The physical exhibition for the twin shows held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will run until July 29, while the online service will end on August 5. Because of COVID-19 restrictions on international travel, most of the 440 exhibitors are local companies, who have had to adjust their business strategy. Mr. Stanley Chu Kum-wing, an expert in jade from Anton Jewellery, said the shows used to be world-oriented, but had become a local exhibition this year. “We will select jewellery that is more popular with local people,” he said. “The number of exhibits has been reduced to one-third (of the original amount), and prices are very favourable. " An on-site helper of the HKTDC, who asked not to be named, said the previous jewellery exhibitions were always world-class trade shows, and there were usually many exhibitors from all over the world. However, almost all of the exhibitors this year were local companies, and the shows were being opened to the public to increase visitor numbers because there were few visitors from overseas. Singapore’s Leow Antique Watch & Jewellery is one of a few non-local exhibitors. Mr. Lik Szeto, told The Young Reporter that the company has great confidence in the Hong Kong market, where customs declaration procedures are relatively simple and tax is very low. He said Hong Kong plays a very important role to the company’s customers, who are mainly overseas Chinese from …

Neil Gaiman, of American Gods and Coraline fame, is working on his own version of the Chinese classic, Journey to the West, he told fans at this year’s Hong Kong Literary Festival. He joined Chinese history professor, Julia Lovell in a virtual presentation last week to discuss appreciation of the epic in the modern context and the character of Sun Wukong, the monkey king. Mr Gaiman has been working on his new book “Wukong and I” since 2009. He imagines himself joining the Tang monk and Wukong on a pilgrimage to collect the Budhhist scriptures. “There are many philosophies of life in Journey to the West. For example, the monkey king goes from being weird and rebellious to learning teamwork," Mr Gaiman said. "Although written 500 years ago, people are still so interested in the characters in the book, which shows its greatness," he told his audience. He first went to China in 2007. “People from all kinds of professions talked to me about Journey to the West, which gave me the initial budding of writing a book of the Monkey King,” Mr Gaiman said. Since then, he has visited China many times to collect materials and find inspiration. He travelled along the Silk Road, and recorded his experience and strange stories he picked up along the way. He met Liu Xiaolingtong, an actor who played Monkey in a popular television show in the 1980s. The actor told him that he too hoped the spirit of Monkey can be introduced to the rest of the world Prof Julia Lovell, has just produced a new translation of an abridged version of Journey to the West. Li Siyu, a Neil Gaiman fan, told The Young Reporter that she was looking forward to the new book. "I am so impressed, for example, when …