#FailedState
Hong Kong quarantine pushes Cathay pilots to 'breaking point'
//#CathayPacific has been hit by a wave of pilot resignations in recent weeks as resentment over Hong Kong's strict quarantine regime boils over and crew scramble for emerging opportunities overseas.
The departures come as Hong Kong ties itself to Beijing's closed-border zero-Covid strategy - a move that has kept the city coronavirus-free but internationally isolated.
Hong Kong's leaders say normalising travel with China must come before the rest of the world, a strategy that has caused growing alarm within multinationals in a finance hub that dubs itself "Asia's World City".
AFP interviewed four Cathay pilots who requested anonymity. Each said they knew more than a dozen colleagues who had resigned in the last few weeks.
Pilots fear Hong Kong's future as one of Asia's busiest transport hubs is now at risk.
"Once airlines move infrastructure like technicians, ground crew and pilots out of Hong Kong to places like Seoul and Bangkok, trust me, they're not coming back," one pilot said.
One pilot who flies commercial said he had been unable to see his family overseas for more than 20 months because of the quarantine restrictions and his need to stay flying to top up his depleted salary.
He said he felt Hong Kong's leaders have abandoned the idea of the city being an international hub at the request of "our overlords to the north" - a reference to Beijing.
"I love Hong Kong but if we're not going to plan our way out of this with a roadmap the question becomes what am I doing here?" he said.
"I can't take another year of this."//
Image: Stand News
Source: AFP; Straits Times #Dec2
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kong-quarantine-pushes-cathay-pilots-to-breaking-point
#Beijing #Covid19 #Pandemic #Quarantine #Pilot #Resignation
Hong Kong quarantine pushes Cathay pilots to 'breaking point'
//#CathayPacific has been hit by a wave of pilot resignations in recent weeks as resentment over Hong Kong's strict quarantine regime boils over and crew scramble for emerging opportunities overseas.
The departures come as Hong Kong ties itself to Beijing's closed-border zero-Covid strategy - a move that has kept the city coronavirus-free but internationally isolated.
Hong Kong's leaders say normalising travel with China must come before the rest of the world, a strategy that has caused growing alarm within multinationals in a finance hub that dubs itself "Asia's World City".
AFP interviewed four Cathay pilots who requested anonymity. Each said they knew more than a dozen colleagues who had resigned in the last few weeks.
Pilots fear Hong Kong's future as one of Asia's busiest transport hubs is now at risk.
"Once airlines move infrastructure like technicians, ground crew and pilots out of Hong Kong to places like Seoul and Bangkok, trust me, they're not coming back," one pilot said.
One pilot who flies commercial said he had been unable to see his family overseas for more than 20 months because of the quarantine restrictions and his need to stay flying to top up his depleted salary.
He said he felt Hong Kong's leaders have abandoned the idea of the city being an international hub at the request of "our overlords to the north" - a reference to Beijing.
"I love Hong Kong but if we're not going to plan our way out of this with a roadmap the question becomes what am I doing here?" he said.
"I can't take another year of this."//
Image: Stand News
Source: AFP; Straits Times #Dec2
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kong-quarantine-pushes-cathay-pilots-to-breaking-point
#Beijing #Covid19 #Pandemic #Quarantine #Pilot #Resignation
The Straits Times
Hong Kong quarantine pushes Cathay pilots to 'breaking point'
One cargo pilot said he planned to resign "within six months" and look for employment overseas.
Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more at straitstimes.com.
#PoliceState
Hong Kong Police Targets Pro-democracy Restaurants under the #Pandemic
Source: #FirstHand; #Dec18
Read more
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Hong Kong Police Targets Pro-democracy Restaurants under the #Pandemic
Source: #FirstHand; #Dec18
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#PoliceState
Hong Kong Police Targets Pro-democracy Restaurants under the #Pandemic
Several pro-democracy restaurants in Hong Kong have reportedly become the targets of police inspection as soon as the government rolled out mandatory contact-tracing app at the premises on December 9, 2021.
These pro-democracy "yellow" restaurant were ordered by the authorities to halt dinner dine-in services for two weeks after some customers allegedly failed to scan the #LeaveHomeSafe app.
On December 18, 2021, the police and the staff from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (#FEHD) inspected the Kwong Wing Catering branch in Mong Kok. They claimed that one male customer did not scan the, a defecto tracing app, as required by the government.
It was the third Kwong Wing Catering branch to be penalised within a week for similar alleged violations. The inspection was “suspicious,” the eatery wrote on Facebook, saying police arrived less than 20 minutes after the customer concerned sat down.
After reviewing the security footage, Kwong Wing Catering said the male customer came in with another person, who did scan the app. That person then put the device in the man’s backpack while he appeared to be searching for his phone. He eventually presented his companion’s phone to the restaurant staff.
Other affected pro-democracy restaurants included Kabo Burger, Dine Inn, Explorer Fusion Restaurant, Thai Cool, DK Pizza Cafe, WE TIME CAFE, Santgria Kitchen and more.
Source: #FirstHand; #Dec18
#COVID #Discrimination #Planting #Regime
Hong Kong Police Targets Pro-democracy Restaurants under the #Pandemic
Several pro-democracy restaurants in Hong Kong have reportedly become the targets of police inspection as soon as the government rolled out mandatory contact-tracing app at the premises on December 9, 2021.
These pro-democracy "yellow" restaurant were ordered by the authorities to halt dinner dine-in services for two weeks after some customers allegedly failed to scan the #LeaveHomeSafe app.
On December 18, 2021, the police and the staff from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (#FEHD) inspected the Kwong Wing Catering branch in Mong Kok. They claimed that one male customer did not scan the, a defecto tracing app, as required by the government.
It was the third Kwong Wing Catering branch to be penalised within a week for similar alleged violations. The inspection was “suspicious,” the eatery wrote on Facebook, saying police arrived less than 20 minutes after the customer concerned sat down.
After reviewing the security footage, Kwong Wing Catering said the male customer came in with another person, who did scan the app. That person then put the device in the man’s backpack while he appeared to be searching for his phone. He eventually presented his companion’s phone to the restaurant staff.
Other affected pro-democracy restaurants included Kabo Burger, Dine Inn, Explorer Fusion Restaurant, Thai Cool, DK Pizza Cafe, WE TIME CAFE, Santgria Kitchen and more.
Source: #FirstHand; #Dec18
#COVID #Discrimination #Planting #Regime
#FailedState #COVID19
Dozens of Hong Kong top officials and legislators attended birthday party of a CCP representative violated pandemic restriction
13 senior government officials and 19 legislators in Hong Kong were among the 170 attendees sent into a 21 days quarantine in Penny’s Bay after they attended a birthday party of a CCP representative on January 3, 2022 despite the government’s own pandemic warning.
They included police chief Raymond Siu, immigration chief Au Ka-wang, Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui.
In nearly identical wording, senior officials sent out their statements of apologies in past couple of days. However, only 3 among the 13 officials mentioned that they used the mandatory “Leave Home Safe” tracing App when arriving the premise.
Lawyers who examined photographs of the event said the signs indicating criminal offences included guests chatting unmasked, the failure to use the “Leave Home Safe” exposure alert application and the large crowd that was present.
The party, held on January 3, 2022, was to celebrate the 53rd birthday of Witman Hung Wai-man, a delegate to China’s top national legislature. The well-connected politician invited a long list of the city’s political establishment, ranging from the home affairs secretary to the security chief.
The embarrassing incident came as concerns had been raised in recent weeks after a number of Omicron cases were identified in Hong Kong. Health officials openly asked citizens to avoid large gatherings in the middle of an Omicron outbreak.
Days before the incident, Lam summoned top officials from Cathay Pacific airlines and said they must take responsibility for their aircrew breaching self-isolation rules even if “they may not know their employees’ every act”.
Source: inmediahk; #Jan9
Image: WhatsNew Media
https://bit.ly/3Fasij1
#Covid19 #Pandemic #GatheringBan
====
Related article
Hong Kong Government Officials and Politicians Breach Gathering Ban, Carrie Lam dodges responsibility
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31863
Dozens of Hong Kong top officials and legislators attended birthday party of a CCP representative violated pandemic restriction
13 senior government officials and 19 legislators in Hong Kong were among the 170 attendees sent into a 21 days quarantine in Penny’s Bay after they attended a birthday party of a CCP representative on January 3, 2022 despite the government’s own pandemic warning.
They included police chief Raymond Siu, immigration chief Au Ka-wang, Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui.
In nearly identical wording, senior officials sent out their statements of apologies in past couple of days. However, only 3 among the 13 officials mentioned that they used the mandatory “Leave Home Safe” tracing App when arriving the premise.
Lawyers who examined photographs of the event said the signs indicating criminal offences included guests chatting unmasked, the failure to use the “Leave Home Safe” exposure alert application and the large crowd that was present.
The party, held on January 3, 2022, was to celebrate the 53rd birthday of Witman Hung Wai-man, a delegate to China’s top national legislature. The well-connected politician invited a long list of the city’s political establishment, ranging from the home affairs secretary to the security chief.
The embarrassing incident came as concerns had been raised in recent weeks after a number of Omicron cases were identified in Hong Kong. Health officials openly asked citizens to avoid large gatherings in the middle of an Omicron outbreak.
Days before the incident, Lam summoned top officials from Cathay Pacific airlines and said they must take responsibility for their aircrew breaching self-isolation rules even if “they may not know their employees’ every act”.
Source: inmediahk; #Jan9
Image: WhatsNew Media
https://bit.ly/3Fasij1
#Covid19 #Pandemic #GatheringBan
====
Related article
Hong Kong Government Officials and Politicians Breach Gathering Ban, Carrie Lam dodges responsibility
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31863
#AnimalCruelty
Hong Kong seizes #hamsters from pet store for mass cull
//Authorities in Hong Kong have swooped in on a pet shop, seizing a number of hamsters to be euthanised following a Covid outbreak.
Crowds gathered outside the shop as the animals were carried away in boxes.
Families who have bought a hamster from the Little Boss pet store since 22 December have been told to hand over their pet for euthanasia.
Some 2,000 hamsters and other small mammals are set to be culled because of the outbreak linked to the shop.
Thousands of people have signed a petition against the move.
Unlike many other places, Hong Kong has maintained a "zero Covid" strategy focused on eliminating the disease.//
Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60038551
Source: BBC #Jan19
#FailedState #Covid19 #Pandemic #Pet #Kill
Hong Kong seizes #hamsters from pet store for mass cull
//Authorities in Hong Kong have swooped in on a pet shop, seizing a number of hamsters to be euthanised following a Covid outbreak.
Crowds gathered outside the shop as the animals were carried away in boxes.
Families who have bought a hamster from the Little Boss pet store since 22 December have been told to hand over their pet for euthanasia.
Some 2,000 hamsters and other small mammals are set to be culled because of the outbreak linked to the shop.
Thousands of people have signed a petition against the move.
Unlike many other places, Hong Kong has maintained a "zero Covid" strategy focused on eliminating the disease.//
Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60038551
Source: BBC #Jan19
#FailedState #Covid19 #Pandemic #Pet #Kill
BBC News
Hong Kong seizes hamsters from pet store for mass cull
A pet shop outbreak in "zero Covid" Hong Kong will result in the euthanasia of 2,000 small mammals.
#CCP #Smearing
#China’s claim that #Omicron case came from Canadian mail dismissed as ‘ludicrous’
//A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada was dismissed Monday as being ludicrous and comical.
A Chinese state-controlled news outlet first reported that the Jan. 7 infection of a Beijing resident was the result of receiving a letter or parcel from Canada that passed through Hong Kong.
The Chinese report attributed that scenario to the deputy director of the Beijing Centre for Disease Control in a briefing, even though organizations such as the World Health Organization and Canada Post say the risk of contracting coronavirus from a piece of mail is low.//
Read the full article:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-20/bankers-are-shunning-hong-kong-as-finance-hub-loses-luster
Source: Globe and Mail #Jan17
#Pandemic #Covid19 #Canada
#China’s claim that #Omicron case came from Canadian mail dismissed as ‘ludicrous’
//A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada was dismissed Monday as being ludicrous and comical.
A Chinese state-controlled news outlet first reported that the Jan. 7 infection of a Beijing resident was the result of receiving a letter or parcel from Canada that passed through Hong Kong.
The Chinese report attributed that scenario to the deputy director of the Beijing Centre for Disease Control in a briefing, even though organizations such as the World Health Organization and Canada Post say the risk of contracting coronavirus from a piece of mail is low.//
Read the full article:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-20/bankers-are-shunning-hong-kong-as-finance-hub-loses-luster
Source: Globe and Mail #Jan17
#Pandemic #Covid19 #Canada
#FactWire: #Sinovac limits Hong Kong’s protection against infection from #Omicron, analysis suggests
//Analysis conducted by FactWire suggests that only 16.5 per cent of Hong Kong’s population is currently protected against infection from the Omicron variant of Covid-19, when factors such as the percentage of vaccinated residents, the type of vaccine received, and waning antibody levels are taken into consideration.
This is due to the limited effectiveness of the Chinese-made CoronaVac vaccine, commonly known as Sinovac – one of the two options available in Hong Kong – against infection from the Omicron variant. Almost half of those receiving their first or third jabs in February opted for Sinovac, which may prevent severe illness but not infection.
...three doses of Sinovac may only be 36 per cent effective, falling drastically to 19 per cent after three months, and standing at a mere 8 per cent after six months.
Had BioNTech been the only vaccine offered in Hong Kong since the beginning of its vaccination programme, a protection rate of 56.93 per cent would have been achieved by the end of April, and would have reached 77.4 per cent at the end of October.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/02/26/factwire-sinovac-limits-hong-kongs-protection-against-infection-from-omicron-analysis-suggests/
Source: FactWire; Hong Kong Free Press #Feb26
#Covid19 #Pandemic #MadeinChina #ChineseVaccine
//Analysis conducted by FactWire suggests that only 16.5 per cent of Hong Kong’s population is currently protected against infection from the Omicron variant of Covid-19, when factors such as the percentage of vaccinated residents, the type of vaccine received, and waning antibody levels are taken into consideration.
This is due to the limited effectiveness of the Chinese-made CoronaVac vaccine, commonly known as Sinovac – one of the two options available in Hong Kong – against infection from the Omicron variant. Almost half of those receiving their first or third jabs in February opted for Sinovac, which may prevent severe illness but not infection.
...three doses of Sinovac may only be 36 per cent effective, falling drastically to 19 per cent after three months, and standing at a mere 8 per cent after six months.
Had BioNTech been the only vaccine offered in Hong Kong since the beginning of its vaccination programme, a protection rate of 56.93 per cent would have been achieved by the end of April, and would have reached 77.4 per cent at the end of October.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/02/26/factwire-sinovac-limits-hong-kongs-protection-against-infection-from-omicron-analysis-suggests/
Source: FactWire; Hong Kong Free Press #Feb26
#Covid19 #Pandemic #MadeinChina #ChineseVaccine
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
FactWire: Sinovac limits Hong Kong’s protection against infection from Omicron, analysis suggests
Analysis conducted by FactWire suggests that only 16.5 per cent of Hong Kong’s population is currently protected against infection from the Omicron variant of Covid-19, when factors such as the per…
Two Covid-positive men arrested in Hong Kong for ‘inciting others’ to spread virus on social media
In Hong Kong, two men have been arrested after they allegedly use social media to incite others to spread the Covid-19 virus.
Screenshots shown by the police at the briefing indicated that the 22-year-old allegedly posted a photo of a positive rapid antigen test result to Facebook, along with a caption asking for recommendations of pro-government eateries in Yuen Long.
Other excerpts taken from the popular LIHKG forum showed the user making claims that “there would be a major outbreak in Hong Kong and in the mainland.” The content was partially censored during the police briefing.
The police used the government-developed #LeaveHomeSafe mobile application to track the past location of the men.
Source: Inmediahk; #Mar15
https://bit.ly/3tZOj0o
#Covid19 #WuhanPneumonia #Pandemic #Arrest
In Hong Kong, two men have been arrested after they allegedly use social media to incite others to spread the Covid-19 virus.
Screenshots shown by the police at the briefing indicated that the 22-year-old allegedly posted a photo of a positive rapid antigen test result to Facebook, along with a caption asking for recommendations of pro-government eateries in Yuen Long.
Other excerpts taken from the popular LIHKG forum showed the user making claims that “there would be a major outbreak in Hong Kong and in the mainland.” The content was partially censored during the police briefing.
The police used the government-developed #LeaveHomeSafe mobile application to track the past location of the men.
Source: Inmediahk; #Mar15
https://bit.ly/3tZOj0o
#Covid19 #WuhanPneumonia #Pandemic #Arrest
#ChineseVaccine
Hong Kong's immunised who died of #Covid19 mainly got #Sinovac vaccine: Media
//Almost 87 per cent of Hong Kongers who died from Covid-19 after getting at least one dose of vaccine received China-made Sinovac Biotech Ltd's shot, Ming Pao reported, though most deaths occurred among those who weren't immunised.
Most deaths in Hong Kong have occurred among under-vaccinated senior citizens, particularly those living in elderly care homes.
There have been more than 5,400 fatalities in the latest Omicron-driven outbreak, making the city's death per capita the world's highest.//
Read the full article:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kongs-immunised-who-died-of-covid-19-mainly-got-sinovac-vaccine-media
Source: Bloomberg; Strait Times; Mingpao #Mar20
#Omicron #Pandemic #5thWave #Death #Vaccination #WuhanPneumonia
Hong Kong's immunised who died of #Covid19 mainly got #Sinovac vaccine: Media
//Almost 87 per cent of Hong Kongers who died from Covid-19 after getting at least one dose of vaccine received China-made Sinovac Biotech Ltd's shot, Ming Pao reported, though most deaths occurred among those who weren't immunised.
Most deaths in Hong Kong have occurred among under-vaccinated senior citizens, particularly those living in elderly care homes.
There have been more than 5,400 fatalities in the latest Omicron-driven outbreak, making the city's death per capita the world's highest.//
Read the full article:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kongs-immunised-who-died-of-covid-19-mainly-got-sinovac-vaccine-media
Source: Bloomberg; Strait Times; Mingpao #Mar20
#Omicron #Pandemic #5thWave #Death #Vaccination #WuhanPneumonia
#Pandemic
#China locks down millions more as #Covid19 spreads, reports first deaths in over a year
//More than 4,000 new infections were reported across China on Sunday, March 20, 2022 — with two-thirds in #Jilin province, which borders Russia and North Korea.
Since March 11, Changchun’s nine million people have only been allowed out once every two days to buy food.
Tens of millions of people are currently in lockdown in other Chinese regions and authorities are scrambling to create hospital beds, fearing the outbreak could put the healthcare system under strain.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/20/china-locks-down-millions-more-as-covid-spreads-reports-first-deaths-in-over-a-year/
Source: AFP; Hong Kong Free Press #Mar20
#WuhanPneumonia #Lockdown
#China locks down millions more as #Covid19 spreads, reports first deaths in over a year
//More than 4,000 new infections were reported across China on Sunday, March 20, 2022 — with two-thirds in #Jilin province, which borders Russia and North Korea.
Since March 11, Changchun’s nine million people have only been allowed out once every two days to buy food.
Tens of millions of people are currently in lockdown in other Chinese regions and authorities are scrambling to create hospital beds, fearing the outbreak could put the healthcare system under strain.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/20/china-locks-down-millions-more-as-covid-spreads-reports-first-deaths-in-over-a-year/
Source: AFP; Hong Kong Free Press #Mar20
#WuhanPneumonia #Lockdown