Category: March

11 Hong Kong Restaurants in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021

Hong Kong has 11 entries in ‘Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021‘ with local Cantonese restaurant The Chairman replacing last year’s numero uno Singapore’s Odette in top spot.

The very subjective list is compiled and voted on by over 300 ‘leaders’ in Asia’s culinary field including journalists, food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and culinary experts.

Quite how it can pretend to be remotely objective this year when travel and dining out have been extensively curtailed… But congratulations to the local restaurants listed.

The local restaurants in this year’s ‘Top 50’ are Vea (16),  Neighbourhood (17), Belon (25), Caprice (28), Otto e Mezzo Bombana (33), Amber (37), Ta Vie (38), Mono (44), Lung King Heen (47) and Seventh Son (48).

The only Macau entry is Wing Lei Palace in 50th spot.

HK SciFest 2021

With “Technology For Our Future” as the theme the HK SciFest 2021 aims to encourage the public to learn more about the latest achievements in science and technology as well as the development trends of the future in order to take advantage of technology wisely for dealing with future changes and challenges.

During the festival, 26 March – 11 April, at the HK Science Museum new exhibitions will explore different aspects of ‘science’ including the world of flowers, encounters between amateur naturalists and nature, the application of science and technology in agriculture, the future of seed technology, as well as global climate change.

Highlighted events this year include Fun Science Carnival, Croucher Science Week, and a series of STEM x SCM online activities which looks to expand and engage public interest in and understanding of science, technology, engineering.  There are also guided tours, science lectures and workshops aiming to provide diverse science experiences for people of all ages.

The 11 April, closing event Technologies of Gyroscope and Robotics  (broadcast live on www.youtube.com/user/hksciencemuseum) will have robots performing Tai Chi and tightrope walking to demonstrate how they maintain balance using gyroscopic technology.

Full schedule of HK SciFest 2021 events www.hk.science.museum/scifest2021

HK SciFest 2021
Date: 26 March – 11 April, 2021
Venue: Hong Kong Science Museum
Tickets: various

Fosun BioNTech Batch No 210102 – Update

At today’s daily press conference the Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Nip said the Hong Kong Government had received notice from Fosun Pharma/BionTech that there may be a problem with the packaging with Comirnaty batch number 210102.

BioNTech requested that vaccinations stop during the investigation period, while stressing that this is just a precaution. The Department of Health (DoH) and the CHP have decided that all local vaccinations in Hong Kong using Fosun BioNTech vaccine known as Comirnaty will stop until further notice. 

Director of Health Dr. Constance Chan said the DoH has stringent protocols to monitor the distribution of medications locally.

Hong Kong has imported two batches of BioNTech vaccine:
585,000 doses on 28 February 2021 – Batch Number 210102.
758,000 doses on 7 March 2021 – Batch Number 210104.
150,000 doses from batch number 210102 have been used as of 23 March.

Dr. Chan said since these vaccinations have begun health staff have filed the following reports:
8 incidents when staff found cracks in the container.

22 incidents of leakage due to overpressure in the vile.

16 incidents of loose caps or caps that were not straight were found.

8 incidents where marks or dirt were found on the bottle

To be extra cautious whenever staff found abnormalities, they did not use these viles and threw them away.

Dr. Chan commented that those who have been vaccinated should not worry as there are very strict protocols for the staff to follow. This was echoed by Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan who wanted to remind people that there is no evidence of any problems with the doses already administered to people in Hong Kong.

Thru their distributor Fosun Hong Kong, the Government submitted feedback to the manufacturer BioNTech. The manufacturer recommended Hong Kong suspend use of Batch Number 210102 temporarily. Batch Number 210104 is still in the warehouse and Fosun recommended that this batch not be used for the moment too. Dr. Constance Chan said that they will await the report from BioNTech as to whether batch 210104 can be used. If not, this batch will be returned, and HKGOV will request a new batch from BioNTech.


This morning an investigation was launched by the DoH. Fosun will request BioNTech to review the procedures inside their manufacturing plant. While locally Fosun will review the arrival procedures to see if their handling in Hong Kong had anything to do with these events.

Beyond those waiting for their first dose are those waiting for the second dose. The first group of which are scheduled for this Saturday, 27 March. The DoH is pressuring BioNTech for a prompt response and report.  Currently, the DoH procedure is to administer the 2nd doses on day 21. Although there are studies and recommendations that suggest the second dose be effective up to Day 42. Dr. Chan said the DoH preference is to continue with day 21 but this all depends on what the manufacturer says.

Statement from Fosun Pharma

Fosun received written notice from BioNTech on the evening of 23 March 2021 informing them that there may be a “small number of defects related to the cap of the vial” in batch number 210102.

Fosun added that “As, at the date of this announcement, there is no evidence to suggest that the safety of the relevant batches of product may be at risk.”

Fosun BioNTech Batch No 210102

The Governments of HKSAR and Macao SAR have temporarily suspended Covid-19 vaccinations using Comirnaty.

A press release issued by the Hong Kong Government at 10am 24 March, read below or here, said that it had received notice from the manufacturer that there may be a packaging defect with the closure of the medicine bottle.

For the sake of caution, the government has decided to suspend all vaccinations using this type of vaccine during the investigation period.

BionTech and Fosun Pharma have not found any reasons to believe safety has been compromised. The Department of Health will be having an emergency meeting with the distributors to understand the incident.

Hong Kong currently has two batches of vaccine including Batch Number 210102 (expires 21 June) and 210104. Batch number 210104 will remain sealed and unused until an investigation has been carried out.

For those already vaccinated, which includes bc magazine staff, there has been no notification from the manufacturer that the improper closure is harmful. It may though affect the efficacy of the vaccine.

Suspension of BioNTech vaccination
*****************************
The Government received written notification from Fosun Industrial Co., Limited this morning (March 24) that as notifications of observed deviations in the vial seal of Comirnaty vaccine (BioNTech) product (batch 210102 (Expiry 06/2021)) were received, BioNTech and Fosun Pharma have initiated an investigation to identify the root cause of these packaging issues. For the sake of prudence, the concerned vaccination should be suspended immediately for the time being while investigation is ongoing.
So far, BioNTech and Fosun Pharma have no reason to believe that there is a risk to product safety. However, for the sake of prudence, vaccination of the batch 210102 should be suspended until the investigation is completed. Meanwhile, batch 210104, another batch of BioNTech vaccines procured by Hong Kong, should also be put on hold and not be administered. This is a precautionary measure to continuously ensure vaccine safety.
As BioNTech vaccines procured by Hong Kong belong to the above batches, all Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) stopped vaccinating BioNTech vaccine with immediate effect today until further notice. Those who have made appointments to receive BioNTech vaccination from today onwards need not go to CVC for vaccination.
The Department of Health will hold an urgent meeting with Fosun Industrial Co., Limited today to obtain further details of the incident and discuss on the follow up measures.

This post will be updated as more information is available:
Edited 13:42 added English press release and link

For more information on Covid-19 in Hong Kong see the government website www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Jade Jets Women’s Premier League Champions 2021

Jade Jets 103/5 in 27.3 overs (Mariko Hill 63*, Maryam Bibi 5.3-0-24-2) beat Bauhinia Stars 102 a/o in 35.2 overs (Kary Chan 27, Keenu Gill 4.2-1-6-3, Jasmine Titmuss 7-0-22-3) by 5 wickets

The third and final game of the 2020-21 Women’s Premier League was played on 21st March at Mission Road. Jade Jets skipper Pull To won the toss and elected to field first on an overcast Sunday morning.

To’s decision was vindicated with a pair of early wickets as she held a sharp catch to dismiss Jaswinder Kaur off Iqra Sahar in the 2nd over, after which Jasmine Titmuss trapped Emma Lai lbw. Ruchitha Venkatesh and Kary Chan steadied the innings before Venkatesh nicked the first ball she received from Betty Chan to be dismissed for 5, the Stars 39/3.

Kary Chan was dismissed for 27 on the last ball of Betty Chan’s next over, falling to a clever piece of bowling, and Game 2 POTM Maryam Bibi was caught well by Mariko Hill for a 2nd ball duck. Amanda Cheung stuck around for a while, but was the 6th batter dismissed, bowled around her legs by Keenu Gill, who then ran out a hesitating Alison Siu to leave the Stars reeling at 56/7.

Connie Wong and Dorothea Chan added a much needed 32 runs, but just as she was set to tee off Wong was yorked by Jasmine Titmuss for 26. Titmuss bowled Anum with an identical yorker next ball leaving the Stars 88 for 9. Chan and Maheen Haider added 14 runs in a final wicket partnership that pushed the Stars past 100, before Gill broke through Chan’s defences to bring an end to the innings after 36 overs.

https://youtu.be/Aa1vFpuWXrU

In response, the Bauhina Stars also nabbed a couple of early wickets,  skipper Kary Chan dismissed her opposite number Pull To in the 4th over, and Maryam Bibi struck twice in her opening spell, trapping Titmuss lbw and bowling Keenu Gill with a peach of a delivery.

After 11.2 overs the Jets found themselves on exactly the same score as the Stars – 39/3. But Mariko Hill was hitting well dispatching every poor ball offered. She struck 11 boundaries on her way to an unbeaten 63 off 74 balls, taking the game away from the Stars in the process.

Hill added 43 with Lemon Cheung, in the highest partnership of the game, and despite a late wobble was able to ease the Jets home with 12.3 overs and 5 wickets to spare. A comprehensive win for the Jets to cap off a successful first-ever Women’s Premier League!

1.2 Billion Pixel Panorama of Mars

NASA’s Curiosity rover captured this high-resolution panorama of the Martian surface between Sol 3057 (12 March) and Sol 3062 (17 March 2019).

http://www.360cities.net/image/mars-gigapixel-panorama-curiosity-solar-day-3060#342.00,-2.90,35.5

The version without the rover contains 136 images from 34-millimeter Mast Camera; a version with the rover contains 260 images from 100-millimeter telephoto Mast Camera. Both versions are composed of more than 396 images that were carefully stitched.

Scott Guzewich an Atmospheric Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center commented about the image “Humans minds don’t easily comprehend the vast eons of time that separate us from the places we explore in space with robots like Curiosity. Our minds are designed to think in terms of hours, days, seasons, and years, extending up to a duration of our lifetime and perhaps those a few generations before us.

When we explore Mars, we’re roving over rocks that formed billions of years ago and many of which have been exposed on the surface for at least tens or hundreds of millions of years. It’s a gap of time that we can understand numerically, but there’s no way to have an innate feel for the incredible ancientness of the planet and Gale Crater.”

More panoramas of Mars by Curiosity rover: http://www.360cities.net/sets/curiosity-mars

Hong Kong Cricket All-Stars 2021

The Cricket Hong Kong (CHK) All-Stars Series postponed from last December will now take place later this month at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon. Thirty-six cricketers from across the region have been split into three teams, each of which represents a major district of Hong Kong.

The Kowloon Lions, Hong Kong’s most populous district in the shadow of Lion Rock, will be lead by current Hong Kong skipper Aizaz Khan. While current HK vice-captain Kinchit Shah will lead New Territories Tigers named after the wild tigers that used to roam the area.

Former HK captain Jamie Atkinson will lead the Hong Kong Islanders, home to many of Hong Kong’s distinctive landmarks. The three teams will play each other once in a single round-robin stage, with the top 2 sides playing each other in a Final.

All-Stars Squads

Kowloon Lions: Aizaz Khan (Captain), Zeeshan Ali (Wicketkeeper), Nizakat Khan, Hamed Khan, Ehsan Ayaz, Jack Metters, Mehran Zeb, Dan Pascoe, Dhananjay Rao, Ahan Trivedi, Gandeep Sandhu, Charlie Wallis

New Territories Tigers: Kinchit Shah (Captain), Adit Gorawara (Wicketkeeper), Babar Hayat, Wajid Shah, Akbar Khan, Daniyal Bukhari, Aftab Hussain, Ashley Caddy, Bilal Akhtar, Sheryar Khan, Mohammad Hassan Khan, Ateeq Iqbal

Hong Kong Islanders: Jamie Atkinson (Captain, Wicketkeeper), Umar Mohammad, Ninad Shah, Waqas Khan, Haroon Arshad, Simandeep Singh, Zakir Hayat, Ehsan Khan, Mohammad Waheed, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Ayush Shukla, Mohsin Khan

All-Stars T20 Series

The T20 series will see all three teams compete across 2 days, playing 3 round-robin matches followed by a winner takes all final.

The 50 over competition will see the teams re-drafted with the Hong Kong Islanders taking on the Kowloon Lions in a best of 3 series.

Friday 26th March

9:30am: Kowloon Lions vs New Territories Tigers

1:30pm: Hong Kong Islanders vs Kowloon Lions

Saturday 27th March

9:30am: New Territories Tigers vs Hong Kong Islanders

1:30pm: FINAL

All games played at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon.

The T20 series will be followed by a 3-Match ODI Series between the Kowloon Lions and Hong Kong Islanders.

All games will be screened live and free on Youtube

New Quarantine Hotel List Announced: 21 April – 19 June, 2021

An updated list of 30 designated quarantine hotels for the period 21 April – 19 June 2021 (third cycle) was released today.

The list of designated hotels in the third cycle and related details such as room rates have been uploaded to www.designatedhotel.gov.hk.

Or download the pdf here

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

Hong Kong Eastern District
1. 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

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. 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. Vela Boutique Hotel

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