Category: 2022

Vice News HK Triads Video Geo-Blocked

An informative VICE News video on Hong Kong’s Organized Crime Societies (often known as triads) and the 721 Yuen Long attack that was uploaded to YouTube on 26 March 2022 is now geo-blocked.

It’s an informative video about Hong Kong’s triads – how they originated and have evolved from community support groups to the profit-driven enterprises of today.
Today however the link appears to be geo-blocked – whether this is by Vice or the HK Government is not clear. We have asked Vice why the video is no longer available in Hong Kong and will update this article when/if we receive a reply.
At the moment to watch the video in Hong Kong will need a vpn or similar.  The simplest way is to do this is to download and use a browser called Opera and turn on the built-in VPN.

American Lawyer Samuel Bickett Deported

American lawyer Samuel Bickett who was convicted of ‘assaulting’ an undercover policeman who denied he was a cop – has been released from jail and deported.

Cotten Tree Messages of Hope

An old lady in Diamond Hill is using fallen cotton tree flowers to create colourful messages of hope.

Originally from India the Tree Cotton – Scientific Name 學名: Bombax ceiba – is known as “Hero Trees” in Chinese.

You can read more about the plant in the HK Plant Database.

cotton tree flowers message

Image: andthenHK

Player Welfare-focused Law Trials – Have Your Say

World Rugby is offering everyone involved in the game the chance to have their say on the recent welfare-driven global law trials which have taken place over the last nine months.

An online survey offers fans, players, officials and anyone else with an interest in rugby a chance to be heard. The questionnaire is available until 28 March.   

In July 2021, World Rugby announced that a package of law trials, focused on improving the welfare of players, would be trialled across the global game. Those law trials are: 

  • 50:22: This law trial is intended to create space via a tactical choice for players to drop out of the defensive line in order to prevent their opponents from kicking for touch, reducing the impact of defensive line speed 
  • Goal-line drop out: This law trial is intended to reduce the number of scrums, reward good defence, encourage counter-attacking and increase the rate of ball in play 
  • Pre-bound pods of players: Outlawing the practice of pods of three or more players being pre-bound prior to receiving the ball – the sanction will be a penalty kick
  • Sanctioning the lower limb clear-out: Penalising players who target/drop their weight onto the lower limbs of a jackler – the sanction will be a penalty kick
  • Tightening law relating to latching: One-player latch to be permitted, but this player has the same responsibilities as a first arriving player (i.e. must stay on feet, enter through gate and not fall to floor) – the sanction will be a penalty kick 

The results of the survey will be used alongside detailed data analysis and coach, player, referee and medical feedback to help inform the decision of the Law Review Group (LRG), which will make a final recommendation to the World Rugby High Performance Rugby Committee, before the World Rugby Council considers the recommendations in May. Should the law trials be approved by the Council, they would become full laws of the game in July 2022. 

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “These player welfare-focused law trials have been invaluable and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making them such a success. Now it is vital that World Rugby has a complete picture of the impact of these trials for players, fans, medics and officials alike.   

“That is why we are calling on everyone in the rugby family to have their say on these law trials and let us know your views, including the key question as to whether each of these trials should be accepted into full rugby law. 

“As I said at the beginning of the year, 2022 is the year of player welfare for World Rugby and together with the rugby family we can ensure that this year, the laws of the game are the keeping up with all the developing science in this area.” 

The Global Law Trials survey is available in the following languages
a. English https://forms.office.com/r/8mykKAL3Bt 
b. French https://forms.office.com/r/bxA0KMj1pY 
c. Spanish https://forms.office.com/r/tPgPYi242P 
d. Japanese https://forms.office.com/r/2GCfy9PADa 

Aditional reporting, images: World Rugby

The Aftermath’s Battle of the Bands Final 2022

Sixteen bands entered and the four finalists in The Aftermath‘s Battle of the Bands 2022 are: Brother Plainview, HYBRiD STEREO, Murphy’s Law and Andy is Typing.

Check out the bands performing live in the videos below and make some noise at the final on 1 May at PMQ. Tickets are available here.

Special guests at the final are Nowhere Boys and David Boring

There’s also an album featuring the four finalists available on Bandcamp theaftermathbar.bandcamp.com/album/battle-of-the-bands-2022-finalists

Brother Plainview

Tracklisting: New Year, I Can’t See, Long Wait, New Depth

HYBRiD STEREO

Tracklisting: Intro, Broken Shards, Into the Light, Luna

Murphy’s Law

Tracklisting: Raggafire, Way Out, Red Light, Super Saian

Andy is Typing

Tracklisting: 答應我要好好的過, Take A Break, Yesterday Was Sweet, Don’t Believe

The Aftermath’s Battle of the Bands’ Finale
Brother Plainview, HYBRiD STEREO, Murphy’s Law, Andy is Typing,
Special Guests: David Boring, Nowhere Boys
Date: 3pm, 1 May, 2022
Venue: PMQ
Tickets: $380, $280 from Ticketflap

Social Distancing Measures Relaxed from 21 April

Yet more illogical changes to Hong Kong’s social distancing measures. Why is it ‘safe’ to go to the cinema or have a massage – yet not sit on the beach in the sun where the sunshine can kill the virus and help strengthen the bodies defences against the virus. Why can four people sit in a restaurant to drink and eat but not in a bar?…

Social distancing measures will be relaxed from 21 April in three phases over a period of three months. Use of LeaveHomeSafe and Vaccine Pass upon entering premises will still be required.

Phase 1:

• Reopening of amusement game centres, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment, beauty parlours and massage establishments, sports premises, event premises and religious premises, where the number of persons per group gathering will be 4 generally.

• Relaxation of dine-in service hours at catering premises to 10pm, with the maximum number of persons allowed per table increased to 4; bars/pubs to remain closed.

• Reopening of all sports premises, museums, performance venues and libraries under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

• Masks-on all the time (including when doing exercise) except under necessary circumstances, e.g. eating or drinking at catering premises, receiving facial treatment at beauty parlours.

• Relaxation of the restriction on the maximum number of persons per group gathering in a public place to 4; cancellation of the prohibition on multi-household gatherings at private premises involving more than 2 households.

Phase 2:

• Reopening of the remaining scheduled premises, i.e. swimming pools, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs/nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong/tin kau premises and cruise ships; relaxation of the restriction on the maximum number of persons per table/group gathering at scheduled premises to 8 by and large.

• Reopening of beaches under Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

• Masks-off allowed in outdoor areas of country parks, when engaging in strenuous physical activities in outdoor public places, at sports premises and fitness centres, etc.

• Further relaxation of dine-in service hours at catering premises to midnight, with the maximum number of persons allowed per table increased to 8; reopening of bars/pubs, with the opening hours until midnight/2am and maximum number of persons allowed per table at 4

Phase 3:

• Lifting of the restrictions on the maximum number of customers in terms of capacity limit, business/dine-in hours, maximum number of persons per group gathering, etc. at all catering premises (including bars/pubs) and scheduled premises

The Government Covid website is www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Flight Ban Ends 1 April 2022, Quarantine Rules Revised

With over 50% of Hong Kong’s population infected or recovering from Covid. What need is there for hotel quarantine (apart from hotel profits) unless a person fails a PCR test on arrival?

With effect from 1 April, the “flight ban” on the nine countries (Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) will be lifted.

Quarantine arrangements, under Cap. 599E, for all arrivals to be rationalised as follows:
Only Hong Kong Residents who are fully vaccinated can board a flight for Hong Kong.

A negative PCR-based nucleic acid test, taken within 48 hours of departure.

Confirmation of room reservation in a Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) for at least 7 nights.

“Test and hold” upon arrival in Hong Kong, where a rapid PCR-based nucleic acid test will be conducted; upon a negative test result, a 14-day Quarantine Order will be issued and designated transport taken to go to the DQH.

During the quarantine period, daily RATs will be conducted and PCR-based nucleic acid tests on Day 5 and (if still in the DQH) on Day 12.

If the results of Day 5 PCR-based nucleic acid test and Day 6 and 7 RATs are all negative, early discharge from the DQH will be allowed

If early discharge is opted for: self-monitoring for 7 days, with a PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted at a community testing centre on Day 12.

Otherwise: a PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted in the DQH on Day 12, followed by discharge from the DQH on Day 14 upon a negative result

If the result of the PCR-based nucleic acid test during “test and hold”, Day 5 or 12 PCR based nucleic acid test or daily RAT is positive, transfer to a community isolation hotel will be arranged with an Isolation Order issued.

The isolation and discharge arrangements will be the same as those for local cases in isolation, i.e. completion of isolation for leading a normal life upon Day 6 and 7 RAT negative results

The Government Covid website is www.coronavirus.gov.hk