The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that Anglers’ Beach in Tsuen Wan will be temporarily closed from 29 November to 31 March 31, 2023, for renovation works.
All facilities at the beach will be closed.
Image: HKTB
Category: 2021
Women’s Rugby Results – 20 November, 2021
Premiership
Kowloon 10-19 Valley Black
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00
CWB Phoenix 0-58 USRC Tigers
@ Aberdeen Sports Ground, Kick-off: 18:00
HKFC Ice 17-5 Gai Wu Falcons
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 18:30
National League 2
Kowloon 7-0 Gai Wu Hawks
@ So Kon Po Recreation Ground, Kick-off: 13:30
Tai Po Dragons 34-0 Revolution Serenity
@ Tai Po Kwong Fuk Park, Kick-off: 15:00
City 14-12 CWB Lammergeier
@ Kowloon Tsai Sports Ground, Kick-off: 15:00
Tin Shui Wai 0-5 Disciplined Services
@ Tin Shui Wai Community Ground, Kick-off: 18:00
Police Sirens 40-0 Typhoons Thunder
@ Police Sports Ground, Kick-off: 18:00
Image: hkrugby
Hong Kong Players Compete in Virtual WESPA Championship 2021
Hong Kong has three entrants in this year’s World English Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) Virtual Championship 2021.
Brian Po, Thomson Law Long Yin and Douglas Tsang are playing in the Virtual WESPA Championship 2021 group stages over two weekends on woogles.io.
105 of the top Scrabble players around the world are competing in 5 groups. Brian will be in Group A, while Thomson and Douglas are in Group B. And you can catch all the action live at https://woogles.io/tournament/wespac2021
Hong Kong players Tournament schedule of (HK time):
Brian Po (Group A)
20 & 27 Nov 15:00 v Group D
20 & 27 Nov 18:00 v Group C
21 & 28 Nov 00:00 v Group E
21 & 28 Nov 20:00 v Group B
Douglas Tsang, Thomson Law (Group B)
20 & 27 Nov 21:00 v Group E
21 & 28 Nov 14:00 v Group D
21 & 28 Nov 17:00 v Group C
21 & 28 Nov 20:00 v Group A
Find out more about competitive scrabble in Hong Kong at hkscrabble.org
There are also social Scrabble meetings, visit The Hong Kong Social Scrabble Meetup Group for details of their meetings.
Women’s Rugby Fixtures: 20 November, 2021
Cyclothon Returns in 2022
Local cyclists will get a chance to ride on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for the first time when the Cyclothon makes a comeback in January 2022.
Organised by the HK Tourism Board (HKTB) the Cyclothon returns after its hiatus with a brand new route and a virtual reality racing experience.
The new route has riders start from the Hong Kong Port – the starting point of the bridge in the SAR – and travel through the Scenic Hill Tunnel and along the highway between Airport Channel and western waters and onto the Hong Kong section of the bridge. Riders will then return to the Hong Kong Port.
Registration, which opens on Saturday, is limited to 3,000 participants – who are required to be fully vaccinated and get a negative test result within 48 hours before the event.
Mason Hung, general manager of event and product development at the HK Tourism Board said riders should not wear uniforms or display slogans carrying political meanings, adding anyone who fails to comply will be referred to law enforcement.
There will also be a ‘virtual cyclothon‘ – if you have an android tablet – where from 3-16 January cyclists from around the world can join the virtual race featuring an animated event route mimicking the unique 26 km Cyclothon route.
Don’t have an android tablet then head to Sports Expo in Mongkok or AME E-sports Stadium in TST to enjoy the 45-minute ride.
Cyclothon
Date: 16 January, 2022
Venue: Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
Tickets: $750, $500
More info: registration www.discoverhongkong.com/cyclothon
Cross-harbour Race Returns
After a two-year hiatus, the Victoria Cross-habour Race returns on 12 December. The Hong Kong China Swimming Association (HKGSA) have limited this year’s race to 1,500 swimmers – who have to be fully vaccinated and provide a negative test result within 48 hours of the event.
This year’s race takes a new route. Starting at the Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wanchai swimmers will traverse the beautiful Victoria Harbour and emerge at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.
HKGSA President Mr Ronnie Wong said: “The Harbour Race is back, overcoming the pandemic. With this year’s new route, swimmers will be able to enjoy the beautiful Victoria Harbour view from a new perspective. We look forward to giving everyone an even more enjoyable experience with our new arrangements.”
The race comprises two groups, Racing and Leisure, and registration is open till 22 November.
Cross-harbour Race 2021
Date: 12 December, 2021
Venue: Victoria Harbour
Tickets: Online registration is open until 22 November at www.hkharbourrace.com
Surprise, Surprise… Not! Sevens Postponed Again
To no one’s great surprise the Hong Kong Rugby Union have announced that next year’s Hong Kong Sevens will be postponed, from April to 4-6 November 2022.
The HKRU commented, “It’s basically because the prevailing quarantine and travel restrictions are too difficult to bring in international teams.”
“We’re very disappointed for the rugby community here in Hong Kong and the fans around the world who look forward to the event. But equally, public health is the number one priority and we respect that.”
When asked if the postponement will affect Hong Kong’s reputation in the rugby world: “I don’t think it’s so much affecting Hong Kong’s reputation in the rugby world.”
“I think for all of the major sports events, the ‘M’ Mark events, it’s important we retain our respective places in the global sporting calendar. I think the thing that we are all really concerned about is ensuring that we can get back to hosting these events so that we don’t lose slots on the calendar and Hong Kong retains its place as an important destination for international sports events.”
HK Sevens – Rescheduled
Date: 4-6 November, 2022
Venue: HK Stadium
Tickets: $1,950 (tbc)
Foodpanda Delivery Staff Strike Over Plunging Fees
Angry delivery staff at Foodpanda are staging a two-day strike over the company’s unreasonable cuts in delivery fees.
Protesting staff, carrying banners including “Stop unreasonable pay cuts” and “Foodpanda treats us like slaves!”, gathered outside the firm’s Pandamart warehouse in Kwun Tong where a spokesman Mr Cheng said the company had been cutting fees since the beginning of the year.
The fee for motorcyclists has dropped to $40 per order and for cyclists and on-foot delivery staff to $20-odd. Cheng added, “We have finally reached the bottom of the barrel this time, so we have finally broken out and started a strike!”
According to delivery staff, Foodpanda has reduced the minimum delivery fee several times since January this year on the grounds that it was “for the long-term development of the company” and “to increase the bonus during peak hours”, reducing the fee by at least $10 per order.
Cheng said they would need to work 10% more orders than in January to earn the same salary. Staff are demanded a pay rise, increasing the delivery fee to $50 per order for motorcyclists and $35 for cyclists and on-foot deliverers.
When Foodpanda was first established in Hong Kong, delivery staff were employed on a contract basis. Now they are self-employed, which means no benefits such as sick leave, work injury insurance and MPF. Cheng also said that the delivery staff could be involved in traffic accidents or have their orders cancelled due to “theft of food”. They strongly demanded a pay rise, increasing the delivery fee to $50 per order for motorcyclists and $35 for cyclists and on-foot deliverers.
When Foodpanda was first established in Hong Kong, delivery staff were employed on a contract basis, but now they are self-employed. As a result, delivery workers now lack benefits such as sick leave, work injury insurance and MPF.
Cheng said that delivery staff could be involved in traffic accidents or have their orders cancelled due to “theft of food.” If an order is cancelled two to three times, their account will be suspended for 7 days and they will not be able to work. He added that the company often does not check the reason for an order cancellation, leaving deliverers with no job security and seriously affecting their livelihood.
Apparently, employees can express their opinions through the company’s mobile phone software if they have any complaints. Cheng said, “Bullshit, that’s impossible.” If Foodpanda doesn’t address their concern Cheng said the strike action might escalate.
image: inmediahk