How to Exit Hong Kong

Some pointers to make it easier to leave Hong Kong these days

Here's a quick rundown on how to exit Hong Kong...

Pay your tax before you leave

Come here to do all your tax paperwork

When you resign from your workplace, be sure to get a letter from the HR department about your termination of employment due to departing Hong Kong, along with the requisite IR56G, the notification form from your employer to inform the Inland Revenue Department that you will depart from Hong Kong.

Do not leave this to the last minute before you leave. Take these two pieces of paper and your HKID to the 1/F of  Inland Revenue and it's best to go before it opens at 9am. You will get a ticket and when your number is called, tell the person at the counter you are leaving and show them these letters from your company.

They will tell you to go to the 26/F, where again you queue up and get the requisite green tax form to fill out (hence the IR56G form is handy). Be sure to bring any receipts that you may have made for charitable donations to declare in this form as well.

Hand in the green form and the person may tell you come back in the afternoon.

You will need to fill out this green tax form

At that time they will give your tax bill, which you pay by going back down to Hong Kong Post on the 1/F. There will be several people in front of you with the same white piece of paper with red ink. You cannot pay by credit, only cash or debit.

When this is processed, go back up to the 7/F to get your release letter. This is important to have in order to apply to withdraw your mandatory provident fund (MPF) if you are a foreign passport holder.

All the above can be completed in one day.

Withdraw MPF

You need to say an oath that is witnessed by the Home Affairs office before you can apply to withdraw your MPF, along with the release letter.

Because of the fifth wave, this oath could only be done by appointment only. Best to go to your closest Home Affairs office and get the phone number to make the appointment -- no walk-ins allowed. It's a very antiquated way of doing this, as you cannot book online. Just press redial on your phone 30, 40 times until you get through. 

In my case the oath service was only available Monday, Wednesday and Friday at select times. You might be lucky and get the next day booking or next week. They will ask for your name and contact phone number.

On the appointed day arrive a few minutes early (there will be a queue). A person will check each person against their appointment list (hence no walk-ins allowed). Your request is processed and then an appointed person will witness you reading out a statement in English or Chinese. It is a basically a run-on sentence in legalese saying that you abide by the Oath and Declarations Ordinance, that everything you have declared in your forms are true. While I was waiting for my turn, I was given the Oath and Declarations Ordinance to read...

Oath office is around the corner on O'Brien Road

Once you have read out the oath, the witness will sign and stamp a chop on a letter saying you have completed the oath. Send this original copy to the MPF provider along with the application to withdraw your MPF from either your provider or the MPF website. 

It will ask for information about where you are moving to, your contact details and which bank account the money should be sent to.

Your MPF provider may contact you for further information; in my case it was my tax number in the country I will reside in, and I filled that in online. 

From there it should take about a month for it to be processed.

Others have told me they received two tax refund cheques from Inland Revenue.

Packing up

Purging can be a tough exercise, but when it comes down to it, try to be as ruthless as possible. Give away as much as you can to friends and family, or to charities that could use clothing, stationary, tableware, kitchenware, and so on. 

Mail as much as you can ahead of time

If you don't have any furniture, best to send back things via Hong Kong Post via ship as the cheapest option. Either find a sturdy cardboard box or use the ones sold at the post office and make sure they are secured well with packing tape. 

When you fill out the form, you will need to itemise everything in the box and put a total value on them, so best to make a list as you pack the box -- once it's sealed it's hard to remember what exactly what was in there! Around 10kg is over HK$600 which will arrive in about three months' time. So best to ship off what you don't need first.

Before I left, SpeedPost was available -- packages under 2kg could be sent in two weeks. To make sure I was under 2kg, I brought the unsealed box to weigh it before using the packing tape. The staff don't mind you weighing the box as long as they aren't busy, hence going in the morning is a good time.

You cannot mail any electronics, liquid like perfume, but something like hand cream is OK. Obviously no batteries, lighters or hand sanitiser (anything with alcohol in it). Here's the list.

Miscellaneous

If you are renting, be sure to inform providers for electricity, gas, water, etc that you are leaving and to pay up the bills. They will return the deposits to you via cheque. Same goes for settling mobile phone and internet, gym memberships and so on.

Most people will keep their bank accounts active to either receive the MPF withdrawal or to keep paying mobile phone fees while abroad to retain their Hong Kong numbers. I have heard it is harder to open bank accounts in Hong Kong now, so if you can keep a basic one open, that could be handy.

Try to complete your "bucket list" if you have one. In my case because of the social-distancing measures during the pandemic, and time was ticking fast, I was just happy to see whoever wanted to meet up. 

Departure

Check once, twice, three times to make sure you are clear of the Covid-19 requirements for your destination, as they can change suddenly. In my case from the time I booked my flight to departure rules had changed so that there was no need for a PCR test in both the transit city or the final destination.

Some countries may require you to download a specific app to input all your flight and passport information.

Even though it's all digital, be old school and print out everything. Wifi doesn't work all the time.

Hong Kong International Airport is a ghost town when it comes to services and shops. Practically all of them were closed in the check-in area, and nothing was open past security and immigration except for washrooms and free water. Bring snacks if you want to nibble on something before your flight, or eat a big meal beforehand.

If you are flying economy, be sure to get there at least three hours beforehand as there will be a big queue to check-in, otherwise those in business and first class won't have much of a wait. Be sure to pack all your electronics in your hand carry luggage, not check-in suitcases for inspection.

OK One more post tomorrow on a few of the final things I did in Hong Kong!

HK to Fiinally Relax Some Measures April 21

Restaurants are excited to have dinner service next week

Finally the news everyone was waiting for -- DINNER IS BACK ON!

Today Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor confirmed that social-distancing measures will be further relaxed on April 21, with dinner available until 10pm and four to a table, while gyms, beauty salons, religious venues and cinemas will be reopened. The ban on no more than two households meeting together will be lifted too.

However, swimming pools, beaches and barbecue sites will have to wait for the next phase together with bars and pubs...

Lam proudly showing she's got her fourth jab

Interestingly anyone seeing a movie in the cinema or be employed there will also have to be triple jabbed.

"At this point in time and into the near term, Hong Kong is much, much better prepared to handle another wave," Lam said during the daily press conference. "Nobody wants a sixth wave, but if a sixth wave hits us, we are now much, much better prepared, she said, pointing to the sufficient treatment facilities, quarantine centres and ample supply of Covid vaccines.

"With this greater capacity, it will be very, very unreasonable and perhaps unacceptable to the majority of Hong Kong people to continue to close all these premises and allow people no chance to lead a normal life."

Interesting she says this now after howls of complaints and multinational companies fleeing Hong Kong, but perhaps she can now that she's leaving office.

Anyone interested in living in isolation cells?

And yes there are plentiful quarantine -- or rather isolation units, shipping container units converted into cells that Chinese state media like to call "mobile hospital units", when in fact they are just a bare room with four beds. Toilets and showers are elsewhere...

This is what the next phase of Covid-19 will look like in Hong Kong. Any takers?

Was the Three-Day Test Successful?

Lam says social media was checked if people did RAT tests

For the past three days, some of the 7.3 million Hong Kong residents have tested themselves using the government's distributed rapid antigen tests to see if they have Covid-19.

But of course it's voluntary, so not everyone did the exercise, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor admitted so.

The government-issued rapid antigen test

"Anecdotal evidence suggest that many have [done the RAT test]. We have been asking around, we surfed the Facebook of different groups and social media, and so on," she said.

"But naturally in a city like Hong Kong, I am sure there will be people who do not respond to the government's appeal."

Well... if you say it's voluntary and no need to report test results if they are negative, then what is the point?

It makes no sense.

Here were the numbers of positive cases from RAT tests:

Today: 1,033

Yesterday: 1,638

Friday: 1,265

The start of the line to vote in Kennedy Town

Nevertheless, she said the three-day exercise had no bearing on the government preparing to relax social-distancing measures from April 21, which would include allowing dinner for up to four people per table until 10pm, opening up gyms and entertainment venues.

"By now it's quite clear that we are trending down... By and large, unless there's an exponential surge, otherwise we will continue to implement the relaxation. But the relaxation will be gradual, it will take three stages over three months in order to remove most of the social distancing measures we have put in. But apparently, it will have no particular relevance to the RAT exercise," Lam said.

It's great to see Hong Kong tax dollars being spent for public health...

Meanwhile today was the start of voting for the Philippine elections and today on our walk along Victoria Road in Kennedy Town we saw thousands of domestic helpers lined up waiting to cast their ballots.

The end stretched to U of Chicago HK campus

The voting booths are at the Banyanihan Kennedy Town Centre which is at 55 Victoria Road, and the line snaked all the way up to 168 Victoria Road, around a 15-minute walk! It was shocking to see so many people having to wait in line for possibly hours and police were helpless to try to enforce social-distancing measures.

But at least these Filipinas can cast their votes in this election that will take one month to complete...

Lam's Concessions Too Little, Too Late

Lam said today that people's tolerance is fading 

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor continues to be behind the ball -- waaaaayyy behind.

Today in her daily press conference she conceded that Hong Kong residents have had enough with the government's social-distancing measures -- some of the most toughest in the world -- and perhaps it was time to review the and relax some of them.

Business leaders like Zeman pleaded with Lam

"I'm working [on] it day and night to find the optimal solution for Hong Kong," Lam said, referring to a plan for the city to reopen to the outside world. 

"The time has come, not because the number of cases has come down significantly -- they are actually now at a high-level plateau -- but I have a very strong feeling that people's tolerance is fading. I have a very good [feeling] that some of our financial institutions are losing patience about the isolated status of Hong Kong."

Really? After numerous heads of chambers of commerce, diplomats, and business leaders of multinational companies have pleaded for over two years with Lam to be more realistic about keeping borders open to keep the flow of business coming into Hong Kong, she finally realises they are leaving or have already left.

Many of them have had enough of the restrictions, that make it impossible to travel in and out of Hong Kong to do business without having to do quarantine weeks on end, flights being cancelled and social-distancing measures. And as a result a number of companies have moved or are moving to Singapore, soon to replace Hong Kong as Asia's hub.

Over 50,000 people left from March 1-15

In February 71,354 people left, a record since the start of the fifth wave in late December, while in the first half of March 50,505 people left, many of them trying to avoid the mass testing lockdown, or leaving permanently.

On top of that are local residents departing their hometowns for good, terrified of the national security law and national education, and looking to raise their families elsewhere.

So what is Lam doing to stem the flow?

As early as Sunday she will announce if the mass testing will still go ahead or not, along with the possible relaxation of quarantine requirements from 14 days to seven.

Why this sudden turn around when all along Lam has been pushing for zero-Covid?

Has Beijing finally realised that it is impossible to stamp out the virus completely and is using Hong Kong as a test case to live with the virus -- with Chinese characteristics?

Landmark shopping mall at noon yesterday

We are waiting with baited breath -- everyone from restaurant and bar owners, operators of gyms, sports coaches, beauty salons, mahjong parlours, to art and museum institutions, movie theatres, performing arts groups, and the tens of thousands of workers who have lost their jobs during this pandemic.

Hong Kong is dying and it's time for common sense and science to prevail.

Covid Could Harm Your Penis and Other Horrible News

A study of Covid-infected hamsters yielded interesting results

There might be another way to entice people -- particularly men -- to get vaccinated.

If they don't and catch Covid-19, their sperm count could drop.

That's according to research from the University of Hong Kong, that says the coronavirus could damage testicles, lower sex drive, and affect fertility in men.

The findings were released on Sunday by ProfessorYuen Kwok-yung and his HKU team, based on a study on testicular and hormonal changes in hamsters infected with the virus.

Yuen led the study by HKU researchers

The fact that Yuen even has time to conduct this study while being busy inspecting the airflow and ventilation of buildings whenever there's an infection is quite impressive... and how did they even come up with this hypothesis?!

Nevertheless, it was found that infected hamsters suffered a sharp drop in sperm count and serum testosterone four to seven days after infection.

The rodents also developed chronic testicular atrophy, resulting in a decrease in the size and weight of the testicles. Again aren't those quite small to start with?!

Both Omicron and Delta variants caused similar effects.

At least this is a bit of light-hearted news after days of depressing news and more to come.

Today 6,067 infected cases were recorded, only 12 of which were imported. The Centre for Health Protection has now given up on releasing preliminary positive cases as they did not reflect the true number, but also because they are completely overwhelmed.

Hong Kong officials are throwing their weight behind battling "the enemy", as Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu says the city is in "full-on war mode" he wrote in his blog.

Lee says Hong Kong is in "full-on war mode"

"Now is the most critical time during the two years of anti-pandemic efforts. The SAR government is in a full-on war mode and will follow the important instruction of President Xi Jinping to stabilise the epidemic as an overriding priority, mobilising all forces and resources, taking all necessary steps to protect Hong Kong people's lives and health and ensure Hong Kong's social stability."

So it is under the guise of the pandemic that Hong Kong will follow instructions from Beijing because it is very evident that Hong Kong people cannot govern Hong Kong.

Meanwhile his colleague Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee warned in a radio program that social-distancing measures would be further tightened, but didn't go into details.

What does this mean? People can't even be in groups of two?

Chan says more restrictions to come

It seems the government is intent on making us the most miserable people on earth. We can't eat in a restaurant after 6pm, can't get haircuts or exercise in a gym, watch a movie, attend a concert, go swimming, go to a church/synagogue/mosque service, borrow a book from the library, and attend a wedding or funeral.

And Chan says it's going to get worse?

It's going to be a long, long spring.

More Severe Restrictions To Fight 5th Wave

A restaurant worker watches Lam detail the latest measures

The Hong Kong government has finally announced it will be implementing the vaccine passport from Thursday in restaurants in a bid to clamp down on the fifth wave of the pandemic, something that should have been instituted months ago to get people vaccinated.

Then from February 24, people must show their vaccination status on their LeaveHomeSafe app in order to enter shopping malls, supermarkets, wet markets, hair salons and religious venues. When the virus tampers down the vaccine pass will be extended to places like gyms, beauty parlours, swimming pools and cinemas.

4.30pm briefing gave more details to restrictions

People have until the end of April to get their first jab, then the end of June to get their second, and after that their booster. 

Why wasn't this implemented earlier like in the summer and early fall when we had zero cases? We wouldn't have 625 cases recorded today, 621 of which are local infections.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said many of the cases were a result of family gatherings during Chinese New Year, and so now only people from two different households can meet at home, though officials admitted there would be no police checks per se or court orders to search people's homes.

For restaurants that are type B or C they can only have two people per table, whereas at type D places where all staff are fully vaccinated, then four people can sit together. How they come up with these numbers is arbitrary. And perhaps another stinging regulation is that only two people can be together in a public place. How are families supposed to walk around then? It's all quite maddening.

I asked my cousin if his parents would finally get vaccinated, otherwise he will be burdened with the task of shopping for food for the family, and he's not exactly a food shopper. He admitted his parents will probably hold out as much as they can, but will eventually give in and get the jab, albeit reluctantly.

Lam said the infection numbers were shocking

For the last year or so I can't understand their stubbornness at not getting inoculated -- for their own protection.

Meanwhile my male colleagues were worried about not being able to get their hair cut and I advised them to do it tomorrow before the deadline on Thursday. I reminded them that hair salons would reopen by February 24, but that they would need to show their vaccine passport.

Sighs of relief all round.

The whole day was consumed with watching Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor this morning talk about how shocking the infection numbers were, and then finally hearing from her at 3.30pm what the measures would be. However she refused to give details and said those would be revealed at the 4.30pm press briefing with health officials that we all dutifully watched and took notes.

And to scare people even more, those who do not obey compulsory testing orders will be fined not the current HK$5,000, but HK$10,000. The government added another HK$26 billion in the anti-epidemic relief fund, which was passed by "patriots in power", but will that be enough to help everyone in dire straits?

We're back to dining restrictions from 2020

Residents in short-term employment will get a one-off HK$10,000 handout, while those on the pandemic frontline, such as cleaners, security guards and airport cargo workers will receive a monthly stipend of HK$2,000 for five months from February.

Sounds like peanuts again, but better than nothing.

Despite these measures, infectious disease experts say they might not be enough, and that the vaccine pass may need to be implemented for public transport. How will people ever get onto the MTR on time if that's the case? Imagine all the arguments people would have with bus drivers and mini bus drivers? 

Everyone is so stressed as it is, and these latest social-distancing restrictions pile on more doom and gloom to the situation that seems to never end.

It's going to be a long February even though it's the shortest month of the year.

The quote of the day goes to Lam who misspoke a common expression. Instead of saying "killing two birds with one stone", she said: "Killing two stones with one bird".

That's one strong bird.

Chinese New Year is Cancelled

Lam (middle) announcing extended measures tonight

As expected, the Hong Kong government extended social-distancing measures for another two weeks to February 3, thus effectively cancelling celebrations for Chinese New Year, which starts on February 1. 

Not only will restaurants not be able to serve dinner at 6pm, but also the traditional Lunary New Year fair is cancelled too, putting the livelihoods of flower farmers in jeopardy, as well as businesses hoping to sell festive products during the fair.

However, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor claimed despite the updated measures, Hong Kong is still on track to reopen the border with the mainland. 

More people getting a jab to eat dim sum

"The latest assessment is Covid-19 is not yet under control, there's still a risk of a large-scale outbreak," Lam said -- without wearing a mask:
"If there is no major outbreak on February 4, we will restore business operations but they will be subject to vaccination requirements."

Earlier the government had said that for people to enter 15 types of businesses, including bars, gyms, theme parks and beauty parlours, and restaurants serving dinner, people would need to have at least one jab by February 24, but now that has been moved up -- a date officials have yet to announce. 

My friend YTSL got her third jab the other day and chatted with her nurse who reported many people who have come to get vaccinated are only getting their first one because they want to have dim sum with their friends.

If only Lam and Co had instituted this earlier, Hong Kong's vaccination rate would have surged significantly last year. Not much more to say except better late than never...

Some 4,700 have gone into quarantine camps

Since the first detection of the Omicron variant in the city on December 30, 60 people have been infected locally, and 4,700 sent to quarantine camps that can't keep up with the large numbers of people coming in; tests and paper work are not done efficiently, causing many administrative issues. When it is their time to leave, their tests and release papers haven't been processed yet and have to wait another day to be allowed to depart. 

"I need to apologise to the residents who had unpleasant experiences during Covid-19 testing, contact tracing and compulsory quarantine on behalf of the government," Lam said during tonight's press conference.

"I hope they can understand that we have already mobilised a lot of manpower to contain the Omicron outbreak but unfortunately we still cannot keep everyone satisfied."

Wonder if those frustrated with the government will accept her apology...

The Lam administration also promises a fifth round of subsidies worth HK$3.57 billion (US$457.7 million), but affected sectors like catering, gyms and tourism say it's a drop in the bucket when the money is all parcelled out. 

Chinese restaurants lose out on CNY business

For example, bars and restaurants that are around 1,000 sq ft can get HK$50,000 in subsidies, while instructors in special interest classes can get HK$5,000 each. Hardly compensatory. 

On top of that with fewer flights operating, there is the possibility that fresh food will be imported at a premium, and will result in food costing even more. Maybe now people will finally wean themselves off uni, wagyu, truffles and lobster... 

Here We Go Again

Today Lam announced tough measures to contain Omicron

Hong Kong is on the cusp of the fifth wave with several local cases of Omicron in the community, and the government has clamped down hard with some severe measures. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor held the 3.30pm press conference that the entire city tuned in to hear and it was bad news.

From midnight January 7-20, all restaurants must close by 6pm until 5am, and depending on if it is a B, C, or D restaurant, there will be two, four and six people per table respectively. Large gatherings of any kind are banned, bars, venues with live music, karaoke, dancing, gyms, swimming pools, gaming arcades, government-run leisure buildings are all shut for two weeks.

In addition all "cruises to no where", local tours are banned, as well as visits to elderly homes and hospitals, mahjong parlours and cinemas.

Nine on this cruise ship are a possible cluster

Hardly anyone will be able to enter Hong Kong, as eight countries have been banned from returning to the city from January 8 for two weeks: Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the US and UK, including via transit. 

My colleagues were in a bitter mood when they heard the news. One joked he was doing "Dry January" anyway -- where he had stopped drinking for a month to give his liver a break. Another was more sanguine, saying Hong Kong International Airport's third runway could be used to build a quarantine camp since there were no more flights coming and going. Golf carts would be needed to get around...

While Lam hoped these strict measures will help contain the virus in time for Chinese New Year, after having been through this so many times, Hongkongers are not holding their breath. It could be months before Omicron is contained.

It also demonstrates the Zero-Covid strategy is practically impossible to achieve -- there needs to be an increase in the number of vaccinations and an acceptance of the reality that the virus will continue to be in the community one way or another.

Events like the Cyclothon is cancelled 

One piece of good news was that just over 50 percent of all seniors in Hong Kong have had at least one jab, though that means some 593,000 over 70 years of age have yet to be vaccinated.

That compares to 38,000 seniors in Singapore yet to be inoculated, which has a population of 5.6 million.

The other bit of relief for parents was that schooling has not been affected -- yet -- as Lam hoped to avoid as little disruption to classes as much as possible. 

She said the tough measures would be reviewed again on January 14 to see how well they were working or if even harsher measures needed to be adopted.

Health experts believe there could be up to 10 transmission chains already in the community. The cluster at Moon Palace restaurant has grown to six, and another cluster of nine people on board a cruise ship with 2,500 people; the ship had to turn around and come back a day earlier. There is also a possible dancing cluster -- again...

Restaurants must close by 6pm again

Meanwhile there are very long lines at vaccination centres to get either the first, second or third jab.

The government was caught flat-footed in anticipating demand for vaccines. Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen will be questioned for sure on why the government has not prepared for the onslaught of people wanting to get jabbed. 

In the meantime people are disappointed 2022 has already started badly and wonder will happen in the next 360 days...

5.5M HK Residents can Get Vaccine

Nip announced more people are eligible for vaccination

In a bid to get more people vaccinated, the Hong Kong government has now allowed anyone from the ages of 30 to 59 to get the jab, along with domestic helpers and students 16 years and older who have studied abroad.

This potentially means 5.5 million people can register for the vaccine, and one expects the online registration system could crash tomorrow morning at 9am when millions of people will try to register for a time and date.

Many choosing BioNTech over Sinovac vaccine

They will also be fighting over the rest of the BioNTech vaccine, as there are growing concerns over the Sinovac one that has now recorded a seventh death and two people experienced mild Bell's palsy.

The announcement was made this afternoon at a press conference by Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen.

"After considering the supply of Covid-19 vaccines and operation of the vaccination scheme, we have decided to expand the scope of the priority groups to let more people who are eager to get vaccinated get the shots," Nip said.

"People aged 30 or older make up the majority of the city's working population... quite a lot of domestic workers also need to help take care of elderly people, children and the disabled. Some hourly paid workers also serve more than one family, therefore it is appropriate to include domestic workers at an earlier stage," he added.

So far 198,100 people have gotten the first dose of vaccine, either Sinovac or BioNTech.

Originally there was a schedule prioritizing people such as front line healthcare workers, seniors, residents and staff of disabled care homes, the police, postal workers, hygiene workers, and public transport workers.

Ursus Fitness cluster grows to 122 cases

But that has now all gone out the window and now 80 percent of the population can go register for the jab.

A few of my colleagues are already very eager to get registered for the vaccine. Some friends and a colleague have taken the BioNTech shot and have not reported any side effects so far. Others friends and colleagues would rather wait a few months and see how it goes.

At the same press conference this afternoon Secretary for Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the vaccination rate will determine when the border restrictions will be lifted. 

Today Hong Kong recorded 30 new coronavirus cases, with the Ursus Fitness gym cluster expanding to 122 cases and 860 close contacts sent to quarantine. 

A debate on racism has flared up about how the gym cluster involves expats, but hopefully this incident will shake up that community to take the virus more seriously. There are many anecdotes of them congregating in large groups or not wearing their masks properly (many still wearing their masks below the nose or taking it off when on the phone)...

 

Justice Served in Toilet Paper Heist

 

Today there were 24 new coronavirus cases, and tonight there are lockdowns in several buildings near Ursus Fitness in Sai Ying Pun where the latest cluster has evolved to 109 so far. If the gym cluster continues to expand, Hong Kong could be in its fifth wave.

But way back when the pandemic first began last January, there was an unfounded rumour that the border between China and Hong Kong would shut down and what did people really need? Toilet paper!

Then the hoarding began, with people fighting over bog rolls in the supermarket and soon retail establishments had to set a limit of two packs per person.

Toilet paper were stolen from this Wellcome

And then the heist happened -- at 6am on February 17 last year, 600 rolls of Virjoy toilet paper worth HK$1,695 (US$217) were stolen at knife point by three masked men at at Wellcome supermarket in Mongkok.

The delivery driver who was threatened with the knife later called the police, who managed to recover all 600 rolls the same day in two locations near the supermarket. The three men were arrested soon after.

Fast forward to March 11, and the trio were sentenced to 40 months in jail each for robbery. 

Warehouse worker Ho Chi-leung, 27, transport worker Lee Yan-to, 34, and steel bender Lee Yip-tong, 30, pleaded guilty and in mitigation expressed remorse. Ho apologized to the delivery man.

The stolen goods were quickly recovered by police

While their defense lawyers said the robbery was not elaborate and did not involve valuables, and the stolen goods were recovered, Deputy District Judge David Cheung Chi-wai said the stolen goods could not be valued by their nominal price because of the circumstances at the time.

The judge also noted the three worked together and were equipped, which suggested they had a plan, albeit a simple one.

Justice served.

Green Light for Reopening Some Venues

This afternoon Dr Chan announced loosening of restrictions

 

So it's happening.

The Hong Kong government announced the relaxation of measures starting on Thursday, the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.

However there are some odd choices of why certain venues will reopen and others will not.

What will open? 

Theme parks like Ocean Park can reopen

Restaurants can operate until 10pm and have four to a table -- even though in terms of public gatherings are still a maximum of two people. Secretary for Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said this regulation will be amended to four people soon.

Other places can open, like cinemas, gyms, massage and beauty parlours, concert halls, theme parks, exhibition centres, bowling alleys, skating rinks, and game centres.

But venues that will remain closed are bars, party rooms, bathhouses, karaoke lounges, mahjong parlours, beaches, children's play facilities, barbecue sites and swimming pools.

It boggles the mind how this government decides that for example game centres can open but not swimming pools or beaches. Children can't even play on playgrounds.

When asked about this, Chan didn't have an answer, only to say the government was proceeding with caution, and is being vigilant for any rebound in cases after the Lunar New Year.

"I don't think the next phase of relaxation will be very soon," she replied to a question asking when the other venues may reopen.

Mahjong parlours remain closed

Meanwhile people are rushing to buy an extra phone and sim card to use the LeaveHomeSafe app starting on Thursday when entering premises like restaurants, cinemas, wet markets and gyms.

The salesperson who sold me the sim card said he had already helped several customers with the same request.

I remarked that his company was lucky to get this extra business considering others are still hurting because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Actually we don't really want to do this kind of business -- pandemic business. This app is making people spend more money when they shouldn't have to," he said, adding it was just like the mask-buying situation where the scarcity led to high prices. 

Afterwards I set up the app and tried it out this evening. It's easy to use, scanning a QR code when you enter, then press "leave" when you are leaving, though it prompts two options of "leaving now" or "already left".

Swimming pools must also stay shut

It is hoped the app can help people record their movements in case they themselves are infected, or can alert others if they were in the same place at the same time. In theory it will help speed up contact tracing and it will be interesting to see how quickly people will comply to using it from Thursday.

In the meantime I will continue to walk instead of swim for exercise, though I have die-hard swimming friends who have resorted to open-water swimming these last several months! 

 

Carrot and Stick Approach to Covid-19

Dr Chan announces the loosened measures if cases remain low

 

Late this afternoon there was a big government press conference arranged to announce the latest social-distancing measures.

Diners can eat until 10pm and four to a table

Hard to believe but Secretary for Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee announced that if -- IF the numbers of coronavirus cases continue to be relatively low (17 today), then starting February 18, restaurants will be allowed to have dinner service until 10pm for four people, and venues like cinemas, gyms, museums, massage parlours, theme parks, bowling and billiard centres, ice rinks and game arcades can re-open!

Some places like eateries may need to install extra ventilation in order to operate longer hours.

It's been months since restaurants have been allowed to serve dinner, resulting in them opening all day until 6pm, and offering takeaway as well, doing whatever they can to survive.

Hotels are offering staycations where guests can have dinner served in their rooms, and the takeaway afternoon tea sets are still going strong. Restaurant staff have been working non-stop, and this weekend is even busier with Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day within days of each other.

Venues like gyms can reopen possibly Feb 18

Chan also said the government will also resume all public services on February 18 too, again depending on the pandemic situation.

So that is the carrot.

The stick is that all staff at these above-mentioned venues will have to be tested every two weeks and all patrons must use the LeaveHomeSafe app. If they don't have a smartphone, then their details need to be written down.

The app was introduced in November and hardly anyone used it, because of rumours that it sucked up personal information for the government to collect. But now if they can dine in a restaurant for dinner, will they be willing to use the app?

Some are even thinking of getting an extra smartphone just for this purpose.

In addition Chan said there would be no more lockdowns until after the holidays -- does the virus really take a break during CNY? She reported nearly 25,000 residents in 200 buildings were tested, yielding 20 infections, which is a positive rate of 0.08 percent.

People must use the LeaveHomeSafe app

However, respiratory medicine specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu expressed reservations about the plans to relax social-distancing rules, arguing the pandemic had not yet eased enough. He warned that with more gatherings and fewer virus tests carried out over the new year holiday, infections could surge again.

"The number of cases recently has been on a horizontal trend," Leung said. "Given that the existing measures have not been able to ensure the number of infections on a continuously downward trend, once the rules are relaxed, a rebound is possible because of higher risks of transmission."

He said having staff tested every two weeks and customers use the LeaveHomeSafe app would "not be very effective" in controlling the spread, given then delay in cutting transmission chains should a person be found to have the virus.

While a restaurateur interviewed said business may jump 30 to 40 percent if dinner is available, he was concerned that customers may refuse to use the app and so they might have to call the police to settle the matter.

Leung questions not testing during CNY

Meanwhile gym rats are probably elated that they can finally work out again, though for me, I'm still very happy to walk outside, though admittedly I have missed swimming a lot.

Nevertheless, I have to agree with Leung in that there could be a surge in infections after Chinese New Year and that we should wait until early March to lift restrictions if the numbers continue to be low.

Lifting restrictions before CNY is over is a bit premature and reckless on the part of the government. While it is a carrot to lure people into becoming responsible in the next few days, opening up next Thursday is not enough time to see if there is an uptick in cases...

Govt's Incompetence Fighting Covid-19 Leads to Frustration

Outbreaks in housing estates in Kwai Chung and Ma On Shan

Hongkongers are getting tired of the coronavirus pandemic, and their patience with how the government has handled it is wearing threadbare thin it could snap any day now.

Swimmers are desperate now beaches closed

Starting tomorrow all dining establishments -- with only two per table -- must close by 6pm, while gyms, museums, concert halls, stadiums, beaches, and massage parlours are shut down, and infectious disease experts keep reminding people to stay home, as the number of new cases rose to 104 today.

But people are tired of staying home and it's going to be Christmas in two weeks. 

Restaurant owners, chefs and wait staff are disappointed -- it is during this period in December when they rake in the most money, and considering they've had it tough all year, they were hoping to recoup some of the losses these few weeks but now that's gone.

Does the government really think it can seriously clamp down on the virus by Christmas Eve? Why not just tell us that Christmas is cancelled and be done with it? Fireworks won't be exploding in the sky December 31 anyway.

Now the frustration is turning on the government for mishandling the pandemic. There have been so many missteps from the beginning.

Healthcare workers docked pay for striking

The first is not shutting down borders with the mainland until hundreds of healthcare workers protested for several days and then Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor relented. And now those same healthcare workers are being punished for striking by docking their pay.

Then there were several loopholes where airline staff were tested at the airport, but didn't have to wait for their results. One airline staff went sight seeing with his luggage on the Peak Tram. Questions were raised and then finally loopholes were tightened.

Also, why do directors of listed companies and those planning their IPOs, get to be exempted from quarantine? It makes absolutely no sense. Everyone needs to take a test, regardless of who they are.

Restaurants desperate for business, now shut at 6pm

And now the main source of the fourth wave with over 600 cases are dancing clubs and why aren't they closed? Why are they allowed to remain open and yet karaoke lounges, entertainment centres and cinemas forced to shut instead?

Finally why has Hong Kong not procured enough Covid vaccines for everyone, and not until late 2021? Not only that, but also the flu jab as well. The government was warned well in advance the winter season would be even more severe, and yet only about 200,000 are available in the city of over 7 million.

Why is it that Hongkongers are forced to pay for the mistakes made by the government?

Gym owners are angry they will be shut again tomorrow, and even though the government stipulates it is for two weeks, the last time gyms were closed, it was at least six weeks later until they were allowed to reopen.

Meanwhile Lam claims she is too busy working to even talk to her husband, and boasts of having piles of cash at home because she can't open a bank account.

How about sparing a thought for the hundreds of thousands of people who have been financially affected by the pandemic and lost their jobs or had to take pay cuts for the foreseeable future? 

Why are dancing clubs still not closed?

Infectious disease experts have hinted many times the government is not moving fast enough to clamp down on the pandemic when time is of the essence.

Two housing estate blocks in Kwai Chung and Ma On Shan have clusters of infections and yet the government has not exercised its powers to lock down those buildings to test everyone; many families have moved out elsewhere, possibly spreading the virus to other areas.

Is this deliberate so that Hong Kong will never be able to reopen its borders with the mainland and Macau again? Or is it because of the sheer incompetence of the government to follow expert advice and make decisive decisions?

Because the number of cases is so high these days, the chances of the travel bubble with Singapore restarting again soon is a far from possible.

Lam is one of the highest paid leaders in the world and yet her performance rating is so low. 

It boggles the mind how Hong Kong ended up with Lam. Do the 777 people who voted for her in 2017 regret doing so?