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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

Aggie Poon Takes Charge

As a former 110 metre hurdler, Aggie Poon had the pace and the quick feet that made her perfectly suited to playing on the wing or at full-back.

Having debuted as a 20-year-old, Poon was a stalwart of the Hong Kong women’s team, in sevens and 15s and played at Rugby World Cup 2017 and three Asian Games and was Hong Kong’s Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2016.

A meniscus injury to her left knee, however, was one physical barrier Poon was unable to overcome and she was forced to retire in 2017, aged just 27, with 13 caps to her name.

Rather than limping away from the sport, the professional personal trainer used her knowledge of fitness and conditioning to get her knee right again and embark on a career in officiating.

“Some friends asked me why I did not go into coaching. It wasn’t the easiest decision to make between being a coach or a referee,” she admitted.

“I chose the latter because it would be difficult for me to balance the duties as a coach with my other commitments. Refereeing fitted into my schedule better.

“Also, every team player has her own personality and strengths. It’d require a lot of effort as a coach to design a programme that caters for every single team member.

“As a referee, it is just my problem, to prepare well and be better. I cannot put the blame on other people.”

Learning the Laws

Poon isn’t afraid to admit she did not know all the laws of the game while she was playing and continues to strive to get better.

“I thought that refereeing can enrich my understanding of the laws while learning a new skill. I probably knew 60 per cent when I was playing,” she said candidly.

“Doing the set-piece, which includes scrum and lineout, is harder than I expected because the positions I used to play were winger and full-back instead of scrum-half or forward.

“You never stop learning; you should always try and understand the laws of the game otherwise you will pay the price. When you know more and learn more you will be more confident on the pitch.

“I hope to help the players to be more familiar with the laws as well, as having a better understanding of how the game works will help them to improve their performance straight away.”

Poon was appointed to the Asia Rugby refereeing panel this year and says the Amsterdam Sevens is the most prestigious tournament she has refereed to date.

The 31-year-old was part of the Hong Kong women’s sevens team that got to the Rio 2016 repechage only to fall short of making it to the big event.

Tokyo came too soon in her referee development – she only took up the whistle just over three years ago – but Paris 2024 is a realistic aim.

“Refereeing at the Olympics and games at a global level is my goal. It’s a long-term aim as well as a long shot, and I have been equipping myself for it,” she said.

“I have been inspired by Gabriel Lee and Matthew Rodden as they were the two referees who represented Hong Kong at the world level. I know it is an ambitious goal but I’m trying my best to achieve it.”

Additional reporting, image: World Rugby

Self-paid Serology Antibody Testing Service at Airport

The Government has announced the commencement of a self-paid serology antibody testing service at the airport from 18 August for people arriving in Hong Kong. No prices have yet been confirmed.

Fully vaccinated people arriving in Hong Kong who do not possess a positive result proof of a recognised serology antibody test can choose to undergo a self-paid serology antibody test at the airport’s Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) during “test and hold”. The relevant arrangement will be as follows:
(a) Fully vaccinated persons who have stayed in the new Group B specified places will still have to abide by the following relevant boarding requirements, otherwise they will not be able to board flights for Hong Kong:
(i) present a recognised vaccination record,
(ii) present a negative result proof of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft, and
(iii) present confirmation in English or Chinese of room reservation in a DQH in Hong Kong for no less than 14 nights starting from the day of the arrival of the relevant traveller at Hong Kong;
(b) before departure, relevant persons should register and pay for the test on the website of the self-paid serology antibody testing service provider, accessible via a link to be uploaded on the Government’s COVID-19 thematic website (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html);
(c) upon arrival, follow instructions to undergo “test-and-hold” at TSCC;
(d) after specimen collection for the nucleic acid test under “test-and-hold” and on receipt of the relevant quarantine order, persons arriving at Hong Kong who choose to undergo a self-paid serology antibody test at the airport can follow directions to undergo the test by venous blood sampling; and
(e) after undergoing venous blood sampling, the relevant person can leave the airport on confirmation of a negative nucleic acid test result by Government-arranged designated transport to undergo compulsory quarantine in DQHs.

The result of the serology antibody test will be available in about 2 days. If the result is positive, the Department of Health will contact the relevant passengers through their DQHs to shorten their compulsory quarantine period to 7 days. The relevant persons can then arrange with DQHs on refunding the cost of the remaining 7 nights of room reservation.

Passengers still have to undergo two nucleic acid tests during the 7-day compulsory quarantine period, followed by a 7-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 9th, 12th, 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong.

“Persons who choose to undergo self-paid serology antibody testing at the airport will still be required to present at boarding the confirmation of a room reservation of no less than 14 nights in a DQH in Hong Kong, or they will not be allowed to board flights for Hong Kong. The self-paid serology antibody testing service is provided by private testing institutions. Details can be checked with the institutions directly. Persons arriving at Hong Kong should endeavour to reserve and pay for the serology antibody test before departure, in order to ensure a smooth arrival process,” a Government spokesman reminded.

Taiwan Won’t Attend Hong Kong’s Gay Games in 2022 Fearing Security Law

Taiwan will not send a team to next year’s Gay Games in Hong Kong because of fears their athletes and staff could be arrested if they wave the island’s flag or use its name.

The revelation means the only place in Asia to have legalised same-sex marriage will not be at the continent’s first-ever Gay Games.

“We have decided not to send a national delegation as we don’t expect to be able join as Taiwan and to ensure personal safety of the athletes,” Yang Chih-chun, president of the Taiwan Gay Sports and Movement Association (TGSMA), told AFP.

Yang said his organisation, a formal member of the Federation of Gay Games, would assist any Taiwanese player who wanted to attend in a personal capacity.

“But we won’t actively encourage individual participation since there’s no guarantee of a player’s personal safety because under Hong Kong’s national security law, arrests can be made under any excuse,” he said. Yang added that he feared athletes could easily “cross the red line” if they spoke their minds.

In a statement, the Gay Games said it would follow the convention of Taiwan being called either “Chinese Taipei” or “Taiwan region”.

Athletes from Taiwan and the TGSMA were welcome to attend, organisers said, adding: “We are strictly non-partisan and non-political, and we ask all participants and visitors to respect and observe local laws and customs during their stay in Hong Kong.”

additional reporting: AFP

Grace Lau Mo Sheung Wins Bronze in Karate!

Grace Lau Mo Sheung wins the first-ever Olympic medal awarded in karate. And with the sport dropped for Paris 2024 likely one of only four ever awarded.

Karate is making its first appearance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, with men and women competing in kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) events at the Nippon Budokan.

Lau’s bronze medal fight in the Kata against Turkey’s Dilara Bozan was a tight affair, as both faced off against a virtual opponent, finishing 26.94 – 26.52.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/Grace-Lau-Mo-Sheung-Wins-Bronze-in-Karate/i-FDzXjZg

What is Kata?

Kata are demonstrations of forms consisting of a series of offensive and defensive movements targeting a virtual opponent. Competitors choose the kata they will demonstrate from 102 that are recognised by the World Karate Federation. A point-based system was adopted in January 2019 whereby the scores awarded by three of the seven judges are added then applied to a separate calculation formula to determine the winner.

Key factors include the strength, speed, rhythm, balance and power of strikes and kicks; the solidity, clarity and force of movements; and the proper expression of the meaning of each technique with beautiful, flowing motion.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/Grace-Lau-Mo-Sheung-Wins-Bronze-in-Karate/i-7jcVzHg

Lee Wai Sze Wins Second Sprint Bronze

After what she must have found a frustrating and disappointing Olympics Sarah Lee Wai Sze’s beaming smile returned on the last day of the Tokyo2020 games as she won the sprint bronze medal.

After crashing out of the Kirin and not finding her form in the opening rounds of the sprint Lee came good at the end comprehensively beating the current World Champion Germany’s Emma Hinze 2-0.

In winning bronze at Tokyo2020 Lee becomes, after her bronze London2012, the first-ever Hong Kong athlete to win medals at two Olympic games! What an amazing achievement, Chapeau!

Illustration: Man Tsang

Graphic: Surreal HK

Hong Kong Sevens 2021 Cancelled

World Rugby and the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) have cancelled the Hong Kong Sevens, rescheduled for 5-7 November, for the second year in a row.

The decision according to World Rugby, which seems understandable but also strange since the Singapore 7s will go ahead, was made after discussion with the HKRU and relevant Hong Kong government departments was based on the uncertainty regarding travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.

The date for the 2022 Hong Kong Sevens has been set for 1-3 April, just 239 days to go until rugby sevens action returns to its famous home.

Additional reporting, images: World Rugby

Macao Temporarily Removed From Return2hk Scheme

The Government announced today (August 3) that in the light of the latest epidemic development in Macao, Macao will be included on the List of At-risk Places Temporarily Inapplicable under the Return2hk Scheme (List of At-risk Places) from 4 August.

The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) announced today that one imported case and three imported-related cases have been confirmed. According to the assessment by Macao’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre, the risk of local transmission and outbreak of COVID-19 was extremely high. The Chief Executive of the Macao SAR announced that Macao has entered a state of immediate prevention, with effect from 3.30pm today. Starting from the same time, a proof of negative nucleic acid test result obtained within 24 hours is necessary for departure from Macao.

Taking into consideration Macao’s local epidemic development and the relevant announcement, the HK Government will include Macao on the List of At-risk Places from 4 August. Persons who have stayed in Macao or any other places on the List of At-risk Places on the day of arrival at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day will not be eligible to return to Hong Kong under the Return2hk Scheme. They will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine at home, and have to undergo compulsory testing on the third, the seventh and the 12th days of arrival at Hong Kong during quarantine, as well as on the 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong after the completion of quarantine.

The arrangements of shortened quarantine period to seven days for fully vaccinated persons will also not be applicable.