By: Tracy LeungEdited by: Jayde Cheung
Cross-border drivers stuck in quarantine, driving up fresh food prices
- 2022-02-15
- People
- The Young Reporter
- By: Tracy LeungEdited by: Jayde Cheung
- 2022-02-15
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 …
Ontario restaurants to resume dine-in
- 2022-01-31
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: Kiki LoEdited by: Jenny Lam
- 2022-01-31
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 …
Police officer sentenced to four weeks in jail for upskirting
- 2022-01-26
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: Jayde CheungEdited by: Clarice Wu
- 2022-01-26
An off-duty traffic police officer was sentenced to four weeks in jail for taking photos up women’s skirts. The crime took place in the chain store Don Don Donki in Tsim Sha Tsui on Jan 21 last year. So Yin-ho, 38, was charged with committing an act outraging public decency. He remained calm as Magistrate Jacky Yip Kai-leung meted out the sentence. The Magistrate ruled that upskirting is a serious and formidable crime that upsets women. So denied the charge despite security cameras recordings from the store and eye witness statements presented in court. “It was premeditated and abhorrent,” said the Magistrate. “You do not feel guilty and denied all the accusations, including refusing to admit owning the phone to sneak the photos, even claiming that the safety guards at the store were biased against you.” A psychological report stated that So was likely to repeat the offence. He also showed no remorse while remanded in custody. So plans to appeal and has been released on a bail of HK$25,000 with conditions. "Upskirting" is against the anti-voyeurism law which came into effect on October 8 last year. It prohibits "unlawful recording and observation of intimate part". Francis Kong, a social work supervisor of Caritas Specialised Treatment and Prevention Project of Sexual Violence, said that most people do not grasp the magnitude of the problem due to the absence of explicit legal accusation and punishment. “Clear legislation is important,” said Kong, “the punishment is just a way to compensate the victim. The law should also advocate respect for one another’s will on sexual contact.” Kong believed that upskirting is a form of intrusive sexual violence that neglects other parties’ will. He has called for more education on the issue because heavy penalties, he said, will not prevent similar behaviour in the …
Students learn together on Instagram as Covid-19 gets worse
- 2022-01-24
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Gigi ChongEdited by: Tiffany Ma
- 2022-01-24
The candidates of 2022 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education maintain their burning ambition to study by posting under #2022dsestudygram, a trending hashtag that has gained over 6,000 posts on Instagram. “Studygram makes me more concentrated on my studies during the class suspension period when I see how hard others study though their Studygram,” said Cindy Lam Pui-yin, a DSE candidate taking Physics and Economics as elective subjects, on top of the four compulsory subjects including Chinese, English, Mathematics and Liberal Studies. “The future depends on what you do today,” is one of the inspiring quotes captured by the student-managed Studygrams, where pupils keep a record of their study progress in Instagram accounts, to encourage peers amid class suspension due to rapid spread of Covid-19. The Education Bureau announced that all schools must hold classes online only on Jan.20, but schools can arrange in-person half-day lessons for form six students to prepare for the final examinations. Examinations and student activities in other levels should halt and postpone, according to the announcement. Although online lessons save travelling time and give students more autonomy in learning, Lam worries that the sudden amendment will affect her performance in the public exam. “We haven’t been taught the full curriculum for some elective subjects yet, and the class suspension is having an impact on my preparation for the public exam,” said Lam. Michelle Lam, also a candidate for the examination, owns a studygram with over 700 followers, said that online teaching always distracts her from focusing on the lessons. “I don’t dare to relax when I see so many people study hard even though the in-person classes are suspended,” Lam said. The 2022 DSE will start on Apr. 22 while the class suspension lasts until Chinese New Year holidays.
Covid-19 vaccination for children starts
- 2022-01-22
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: Phoebe LawEdited by: Karmen Li、Jenny Lam
- 2022-01-22
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 …
Edward Leung Tin-kei released after six years in prison
- 2022-01-19
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Karmen Li、Jayde CheungEdited by: Jenny Lam
- 2022-01-19
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.
Two Jabs Required To Enter HKU
- 2022-01-17
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Clarice WuEdited by: KOO Chi Tung 顧知桐
- 2022-01-17
Students and staff from the University of Hong Kong are required to have two jabs in order to access campus starting from Monday. According to an internal email sent to students and staff, anyone who wishes to enter the campus will need either to be fully vaccinated or to take weekly self-tests. The same measure will also be applicable to HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) premises throughout Hong Kong. No exemption is available. All HKU staff and students need to register their COVID-19 status via HKU portal or the HKU COVID-19 Control App. They will be allowed into campus after presenting their HKU ID cards to card readers installed at the entrances of HKU. People who choose to self-test will need to upload their records on a weekly basis. Presentation of original copies, photocopies, or screenshots of vaccination records and self-test records to security guards are also acceptable. Visitors will need to scan the QR code at the entrance to show that they have complied with the COVID-19 control measures before being granted access to the campus. Tam Siu-yee, a Year 3 HKU Science student majoring in Speech and Hearing Science said that the new measure does not really affect her since she has already been fully vaccinated. “I have been out in the clinic being in contact with patients since last semester so I have been vaccinated for a while,” Tam said. Although the measure does not affect her, she disagrees with the implementation. She thinks the new measure does not respect students’ personal wishes and the right to be on campus. Tam doubted the effectiveness of the two available vaccines in Hong Kong on combating Omicron and “doesn’t see the point for mandatory vaccination for COVID-19 control on campus.” Eight universities in Hong Kong have …
COVID-19 quarantine and travel restrictions challenge Hong Kong’s domestic helpers
- 2022-01-13
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Malick GaiEdited by: Robin Ewing
- 2022-01-13
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 …
Panic-buying Emerges Before Typhoon Kompasu Hits the City
- 2021-10-12
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Jayde CheungEdited by: TUNG Yi Wun
- 2021-10-12
Hong Kong people scrambled for food after the Strong Wind Signal No.3 was in force, in order to have enough food before No.8 Gale or Storm Signal was issued today. Fresh meat and seafood in the Wellcome Superstore in Sha Kok Shopping Centre were sold out at noon, as Hong Kong people were panic-buying to get prepared for the approaching typhoon Kompasu. Chan Fung, a customer at Sha Kok Market, said she returned home empty-handed yesterday because of the stockout. She visited the wet market again this afternoon and bought more than usual, including two bags of vegetables, five oranges and a fish, which cost around HK$200. Prices were up for approximately 10%, Chan added. Still, she was not able to purchase any meat, as they were all sold out earlier. “I didn’t buy much, the food is just enough for tomorrow, because I guess the typhoon will only stay for one day,” Chan said. The second typhoon in the city this month is approaching after Lionrock’s visit on Saturday. Typhoon Kompasu will be nearest to Hong Kong in Wednesday's early morning, so the No.8 Gale or Storm Signal issued at 5:20pm will be in force at least before sunrise on Wednesday, according to the central briefing by the Hong Kong Observatory. “Strong to gale force north to north easterly winds, occasionally storm force offshore and on high ground,” said Yeung Kwok Chung, Acting Senior Scientific Officer of Hong Kong Observatory, in the central briefing at 9 pm. "Winds will moderate gradually tomorrow night, it will also be cloudy with heavy squally showers and thunderstorms." Queues in the Wellcome Superstore in Sha Kok Shopping Centre were extended to the back of the store. Tang Man-wai, a customer at the Wellcome Superstore, had only a box of sushi and four cup noodles …
LIVE: Hong Kong Policy Address 2021
- 2021-10-06
- The Young Reporter
- By: Kiki Lo、Kylie Wong、Jayde CheungEdited by: Shameel Ibrahim、LI Chak Ho Samuel
- 2021-10-06
This is the live coverage of Hong Kong Policy Address 2021, the fifth and last policy address in Carrie Lam's term of office. Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage on our website and social media platforms. TYR on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hkbutyr/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hkbutyr/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/hkbutyr 1:39pm: That is the end of Carrie Lam's final and lengthiest policy address. Please stay tuned for further stories from The Young Reporter. 1:18pm: Patriotism is the root of Hong Kong to be the pearl on the palm of the Central Government. 1:14pm: Under the double safeguards of the electoral reforms and the implementation of national security law, Carrie Lam believed Hong Kong will continue to “play an irreplaceable role” and will “pass on the torch” to the new generation. 1:15pm: she faced pressing challenges due to social unrest and Covid, however she was able to pull through because of the support from the Central government and her family. 1:13pm: Carrie Lam urged citizens to vaccinate. 1:12pm: Carrie Lam thanked the people of Hong Kong for helping fight Covid-19, and Hong Kong will continue to prioritize opening with the mainland. 1:11pm: Support will be provided to local youngsters developing in mainland China, especially in the Great Bay Area. 1:09pm: The central government will continue facilitating the flow of talent between Guangdong and Hong Kong, according to Carrie Lam. 1:05pm: Carrie Lam said she will double the quota for the “Quality Migrant” scheme, which mostly targets “highly skilled” and “talented” people from the mainland. 1:04 #policyaddress #policyaddress2021Hong Kong needs to attract more non-local talent so Mrs Lam said she will double the quota for the “Quality Migrant” scheme, which mostly targets “highly-skilled” and “talented” people from the mainland. @hkbutyr — Yimeng ZHANG (@KateZHANG_YM) October 6, 2021 1:05pm: It …