3 minute read
NEWS
Pierside Precinct comes to life
A newly-extended harbourfront attraction called The Pierside Precinct officially opened on March 19. Located between the Wan Chai Pier and the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, the promenade is lined with wooden and concrete structures that also double as seating. At 2,750 square metres, the tourism attraction will be the longest promenade alongside Victoria Harbour.
Advertisement
Rebuild reefs with discarded oyster shells
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has announced the launch of Save Our Shells, an initiative to collect discarded shellfish shells from partner restaurants and oyster farmers to build new, native oyster reefs in Hong Kong. So far nine restaurants including The Verandah, Oyster Station and Alibi – Wine Dine Be Social at Cordis Hotel have joined the project. “Shells of oysters and other shellfish consist of calcium carbonate and have traditionally been used as a house building material. Today, we are using the shells to build a new place for baby oysters to settle and for fish and other marine life to call home,” said Lulu Zhou, director of strategic partnerships for TNC in Asia Pacific.
Quarantine reduced for lowrisk countries
With new daily Covid-19 cases slowing significantly, the Hong Kong government is making some long-awaited adjustments to quarantine arrangements for overseas arrivals. As of April 14, quarantine for fully vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries was shortened to seven days. The three countries; Australia, New Zealand and Singapore will all be exempt from the current 21 day arrangement. The mandatory quarantine period for visitors from those countries was previously shortened from 21 to 14 days.
American International School (AIS), which has been serving Hong Kong’s local and international community since 1986, has announced that it is freezing tuition fees for the 2021 to 2022 school year. This is the second time that it has done so, understanding that the current economic situation in the world has put a strain on many families’ finances. Anita Simpson, Head of School, said: “We understand that many families have suffered financial setbacks during this difficult time. By freezing tuition once again, we are doing our part to help alleviate additional financial pressures for our students and families and tangibly demonstrating our care, commitment, and Core Value of Love for our community.”
Shrewsbury shares on parenting
Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong invites parents and the public to tune in to hear Australian author, activist and psychologist Steve Biddulph share expert insight on parenting. On May 11, Biddulph will discuss the three stages of boyhood, the importance of fathers, testosterone and emotions in his talk titled Raising Boys. On May 18, Biddulph will cover the five stages of girlhood, the importance of fathers, the special role that aunties play and how to avoid growing up too fast in ‘Raising Girls’. The talks have been pre-recorded with a live audience and convey powerful messages told in a moving and memorable way. Biddulph has written a number of influential best-selling books and he lectures worldwide on parenting and children’s education issues. Visit the website to register.
shrewsbury.edu.hk
Electric taxis to relaunch
To encourage the use of battery-powered vehicles in Hong Kong, the government introduced electric taxis across Hong Kong in 2013. The trial wasn’t as successful as they’d hoped, with many drivers complaining about a shortage of charging points and long charging times. This year a second trial will take place in Sai Kung and Lantau Island. With smaller districts and more chargers available, the government hopes it will be a success.
