News

HOLIDAY AT HOME

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, many governments have implemented travel restrictions, which means any idea of an overseas vacation is out of the question at the moment. Luckily, it is not difficult to find joy travelling within Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has recently launched the Holiday at Home campaign to encourage Hongkongers to be a tourist in their own city and to view Hong Kong with a new perspective. The campaign has received great support from the tourism, retail and dining industries, which are working together to boost local consumption. “By encouraging local tourism, we hope to rebuild the city’s vibrant atmosphere and give the world a positive impression so that visitors will feel confident about coming to Hong Kong again,” said HKTB chairman Dr YK Pang. discoverhongkong.com

LIFE IN HONG KONG RESUMES

After months of social-distancing restrictions and ‘quarantini’ happy hours at home, life in Hong Kong is getting back to its regular programming schedule. Hongkongers can now gather in groups of up to 50 people for weddings and other large-scale events. Bars, pubs and nightclub restrictions have also been eased, along with those for live entertainment.

OCEAN PARK REOPENS

After months of closure, Ocean Park resumed operations in mid-June with a series of precautionary measures to safeguard the health and safety of visitors. An array of local resident exclusive offers have launched, alongside a brand new edutainment experience titled Redd’s 5 Senses Discovery. Adding on to that, an exciting new animal exhibit, Little Meerkat & Giant Tortoise Adventure, is scheduled for unveiling later this month. Meanwhile, the Giant Panda Adventure remains closed temporarily to allow staff to focus on taking great care of pandas Ying Ying and Le Le, who succeeded in natural mating for the first time. Ocean Park currently opens six days a week, except Tuesdays, until July 31. For more information, visit oceanpark.com.hk

NEWS

THE PEAK TRAM TO RESCHEDULE SECOND SERVICE SUSPENSION

The Peak Tramway has recently announced that the second phase of its tram service suspension originally scheduled for autumn, will now commence in 2021. The delay is due to the outbreak of Covid-19, which has negatively impacted the Peak Tram’s overhaul in terms of the sourcing of materials and production delays Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, New World Development (NWD) has launched a series of relief measures. Building its own mask production lines in Hong Kong with an aim to produce 7 million masks per month for distribution, its much-anticipated “Mask To Go” dispensers began service in May. This creative initiative in Asia and Europe. Although postponed, the entire upgrade project is still planned to be completed in the same year, 2021. Meanwhile, the much-loved Peak Tram remains open for business and with new special packages for local residents. thepeak.com.hk enables 40,000 pre-registered beneficiaries to collect a free pack of five medical masks over ten consecutive weeks. The masks are available at 37 designated centres run by NGOs across all 18 of Hong Kong’s districts, easing citywide anxiety about the shortage of masks. nwd.com.hk

GRAB A BOOK, WATCH A FILM

The wildly popular Hong Kong Book Fair has announced a new date for its 2020 return. Asia’s largest book fair will now run from July 15 to 21, marking the first major trade event since Covid-19 battered the local events industry. Film buffs can also mark down August 18 to 31 for the return of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, now in its 44th year.

BEACHES ARE BACK

More good news just in time for the sweltering summer months. Beaches, parks and libraries have reopened. A handful of our most beloved swimming spots, including Big Wave Bay, Silverstrand Beach and Trio Beach have opened, along with Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park and

NEW WORLD DEVELOPMENT’S ‘MASK TO GO’ DISPENSERS START SERVICE

Kowloon Park. Time to dust off that picnic basket.

$10,000 CASH HANDOUTS ON JULY 8

Permanent residents over the age of 18 who applied for the government’s cash handouts since June 21 are to receive $10,000 from July 8 onwards. The handout is to encourage local expenditure and ease financial burden by the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn.

news.gov.hk

HONG KONG FASHION WEEK GOES ONLINE

The 51st annual Hong Kong Fashion Week is going virtual this year. From July 27 until August 7, exhibitors and buyers from around the world can continue to discover business opportunities in the Summer Sourcing Week online.

event.hktdc.com/fair/hkfashionweekfw-en