bc magazine

Free Covid Taxi

The concept of a free ‘Covid Taxi’ to transport people to their testing appointments at clinics across the city – thus keeping them off public transport – is quite innovative.

BUT, sadly as with most of the government’s initiatives – the devil is in the details. Participating taxies are only required to fully disinfect their passenger compartment ONCE a day!

The potential for cross-infection is probably far higher than taking a bus or the MTR… No attempt has been made to separate the driver from passengers – why not install a plastic sheet to separate the passenger compartment from the driver? No payment is needed and taxi’s need to be booked in advance, so the destination is already known to the driver.

Free ‘covid taxis’ will be available from 18 February and patients with appointments can book on www.designatedtaxihk.com or call 3693 4770 (8am to 10pm). To make a booking you need to provide: name, contact number, appointment time, designated clinic, pick-up location.

StayHomeSafe Home Quarantine Launched

As of 8 February, The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has started to allow close contacts and household contacts of close contacts to undergo home quarantine for 14 days and four days respectively.

Persons undergoing “StayHomeSafe” must stay in their dwelling place and wear an electronic wristband throughout the quarantine period; regularly monitor their physical condition including taking body temperature twice daily; conduct regular Rapid Antigen Test on their own on specified dates (close contacts must also attend the Community Testing Centre for testing on Day 12); and follow other home quarantine guidelines issued by the Department of Health (DH).

The CHP will assess if people are suitable for StayHome Safe quarantine. Factors to be considered include the suitability of the person’s dwelling place for quarantine, the risk level of persons confining at the same place, and their individual physical conditions.

The Government has launched a website for the “StayHomeSafe” Scheme:
www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/home-quarantine.html, and the Home Affairs Department has also set up hotline (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/Important_Contact_Information.pdf) to provide assistance to persons undergoing “StayHomeSafe”.

There is also a list of buildings where people who are part of the StayHomeSafe live.

LeaveHomeSafe App Required for Restaurants and Bars

From 9 December usage of the ‘LeaveHomeSafe‘ mobile app will be strictly enforced for entering all restaurants.

The Government has announced the updated arrangements for using the “LeaveHomeSafe” (LHS) mobile application that will take effect on 9 December 2021.

Scanning of the venue QR code will be required for entry to all premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). The modes of operation of catering business will also be adjusted accordingly…

Cap 599F covers all catering business premises that offer dine-in services, bars or pubs, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs or nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises, cruise ships, amusement game centres, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment, beauty parlours and massage establishments, clubhouses, sports premises, swimming pools, hotel and guesthouses, and event premises.

If you are not sure there is more information www.coronavirus.gov.hk

LeaveHomeSafe App Required for Government Buildings

From 1 November usage of the ‘LeaveHomeSafe‘ mobile app will be strictly enforced for employees and members of the public when entering government buildings.

Scanning of the venue QR code will be required for entry.

What exactly constitutes a ‘government building’ is not defined in the announcement.

The more important question is if the government are willing to mandate usage of the LeaveHomeSafe app to enter. Why won’t they take the commonsense step and only allow entry to vaccinated people?

A requirement that is in place in several countries across the world. This would quickly boost the vaccination levels in the SAR.

New Quarantine Hotel List Announced: 1 December 2021 – 28 February, 2022

An updated list of 40 designated Hong Kong quarantine hotels for the period 1 December 2021 – 28 February 2022 (sixth cycle) has been released.

The list of designated hotels in the sixth cycle features 11,500 rooms and related details such as room rates have been uploaded to www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/designated-hotel.html, or download the pdf here.

New hotels for this cycle are: iclub Fortress Hill Hotel; O’Hotel; Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West (Tower 1); Lanson Place Causeway Bay; Holiday Inn Golden Mile.

Rates for many hotels have risen sharply for this sixth cycle!

There is an excellent google docs form here about the various hotels including room prices, contact details, restrictions.

A facebook group exists Transfer HK Quarantine Hotel Reservations to connect those who have a reservation and can’t use it with those looking for a room.

Central and Western District
1. Best Western Plus Hotel Hong Kong
2. CM+ Hotels & Serviced Apartments
3. Grand City Hotel
4. JEN Hong Kong by Shangri-La
5. Lan Kwai Fong Hotel @ Kau U Fong
6. One-Eight-One Hotel & Serviced Residences
7. Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View
8. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
9. Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong
10. Ovolo Central

Hong Kong Eastern District
1. iclub Fortress Hill Hotel
2. Ramada Hong Kong Grand View

Islands District
1. Four Points by Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung
2. Regal Airport Hotel

Kowloon City District
1. Bridal Tea House Hotel Hung Hom Gillies Avenue South
2. iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel
3. Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong
4. Metropark Hotel Kowloon Hong Kong
5. Regal Oriental Hotel
6. O’Hotel

Kwai Tsing District
1. Dorsett Tsuen Wan

Hong Kong Southern District
1. Nina Hotel Island South (Formerly L’hotel Island South)
2. Ovolo Southside

Tsuen Wan District
1. Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West (Tower 1)
2. Silka Far East Hotel Hong Kong

Wan Chai District
1. Best Western Hotel Causeway Bay
2. Dorsett Wanchai Hong Kong
3. Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island
4. Mira Moon Hotel
5. Lanson Place Causeway Bay
6. Eco Tree Hotel Causeway Bay
7. Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay
8. Empire Prestige Causeway Bay
9. Empire Hotel Causeway Bay

Wong Tai Sin District
1. Pentahotel Hong Kong

Kowloon Yau Tsim Mong District
1. Bridal Tea House Hotel Yau Ma Tei Wing Sing Lane
2. Dorsett Mongkok Hong Kong
3. Ramada Hong Kong Grand
4. Silka Seaview Hotel Hong Kong
5. Holiday Inn Golden Mile

Cathay Pacific Vaccination Draw Scam

With little confidence in the government’s Covid-19 response, too many HongKongers have still not got vaccinated. Quite why, when the Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty vaccine is produced and tested in the regulatory intense European Union and is free, I don’t understand.

Rather than make vaccination mandatory pressure was put on companies to ‘bribe’ HongKongers with lucky draws and prizes for getting vaccinated. Among those deciding to participate was Cathay Pacific who offered “25,000 free tickets to over 50 destinations. You can enter the lucky draw between 16 September and 30 September, 2021.”

Not one to turn down the chance of a free flight ticket I entered. With the entry closing date the 30 September 2021 and the Cathay website indicating “The results will be drawn on 5 October, 2021 and announced on the Cathay website.”

So I was more than a little surprised this morning (29 September) to receive an email from Cathay informing me that I was not a winner, but that they would keep sending me promotional material – something I specifically opted out of.

unfortunately, you weren’t chosen as a winner on this occasion.

“weren’t chosen” in the email also seems to imply that the draw is not random, but prizes are issued to Asia Miles members (needed to enter the draw) with accounts that Cathay wants to reward.

bc has approached Cathay for comment and will update this article if one is recieved.

The draws maybe a scam for your personal data, but getting vaccinated will reduce your chance of getting Covid-19 and reduce in most cases the seriousness of the infection. Get Vaccinated!!

Government Extends Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) to March 31, 2022

The Government announced today (10 August) that it will extend the expiry dates of various regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) to March 31, 2022

A Government spokesman explained that extending the expiry dates of the relevant regulations maintains the legal frameworks for the implementation of the relevant infection control measures. It does not imply that the restrictions currently imposed under those regulations will be maintained until the corresponding expiry dates.

The relevant statutory framework has provisions in place to allow flexibility such that the Government may tighten, relax or even suspend specific requirements and conditions subject to development of the epidemic situation.

“We will continue to closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation and review the various measures in place from time to time with a view to making suitable adjustments taking into account all relevant factors,” said the spokesman.

Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599)

(1) Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C)

(2) Prevention and Control of Disease (Disclosure of Information) Regulation (Cap. 599D)

(3) Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E)

(4) Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F)

(5) Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G)

(6) Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)

(7) Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I)

(8) Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J)

((1)-(7) above are currently effective till September 30, 2021. (8) is currently effective till August 14, 2021)

Consumption Vouchers Registration Closes 14 August

Registration for the Consumption Voucher Scheme will close this Saturday, 14 August.

Each eligible person can only register once and duplicate registrations will not be processed.

Octopus Card users will first receive HK$2,000, another HK$2,000 two months later, and then HK$1,000 several weeks after that.

People who receive the vouchers via their AlipayHK, Tap & Go or WeChat Pay HK digital wallets will first get HK$2,000 and then HK$3,000 two months later.

People who completed their registration on or after 18 July, and those who submitted paper registration forms, will receive the first $2,000 tranche of consumption vouchers on 1 September.

If you have not applied, registration closes on 14 August www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk