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Kai Tak MTR opens
Fighting disease with light energy
MTR opened phase one of the Tuen Ma Line on Valentine’s Day with the inaugural train running from the new Kai Tak Station to Wu Kai Sha Station at 5.45am. A simple ceremony on the platform took place where the MTR management team took part in a countdown with hundreds of onlooking passengers. The new line currently runs between Kai Tak, Diamond Hill, Hin Keng and Tai Wai, joining the existing Ma On Shan Line. Phase two of the Tuen Ma Line is expected to open by the end of 2021.
After ten years of research and development, locallybased biotech startup Raze has optimised its photocatalyst technology for mass use and is ready to revolutionise household hygiene practices. This comes at an especially optimal time given the coronavirus outbreak. With a simple spray, Raze’s photocatalyst nanoparticles absorb into any surface and form a self-sanitising coating using light energy, providing continuous protection from indoor pollutants and pathogens. The spray can be used on any surface, including clothes, handbags, wallets or even surgical masks. For more information, visit nanoraze.com
All pooped out
Pets don’t need masks!
Hong Kong residents continue to panic despite government assurances that supplies of toilet paper remain unaffected by the coronavirus outbreak. Supermarkets have been unable to restock quickly enough, leading to long queues and shelves stripped bare. Amidst citywide panic-purchasing, three armed robbers stole hundreds of toilet rolls that were being delivered to a supermarket in Mong Kok in mid-February. The robbers, wielding knives, threatened the delivery man and took off with rolls worth more than $1,000. Two arrests were made later.
Pet owners can be assured that there is no evidence that the novel coronavirus can affect dogs or cats, according to two experts in infectious diseases of cats and dogs from the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University, together with veterinary surgeons from the Hong Kong Veterinary Association and the SPCA. Previous experience with SARS suggests that dogs or cats in contact with the new virus will neither become ill nor transmit the virus. However, owners should continue to take normal precautions such as washing hands after handling their pets.
On a break
Slow season
Cathay Pacific’s beloved fanfares, which typically go live on the company’s website every Tuesday morning, have been suspended for an indefinite amount of time. Cathay states that the programme “is taking a short break for network and schedule adjustments”. Stay tuned for any updates on their Facebook page at facebook.com/cathaypacificHK
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced in mid-February that Hong Kong received 3.2 million visitor arrivals in January, a daily average of 100,000, dropping 53% from 200,000 in the first half of 2019. While average daily arrivals recovered to 130,000 with the pre-Chinese New Year rush in January, the outbreak of COVID-19 aggravated the decline once again and visitors plunged to 65,000 a day in late January. Find out more on discoverhongkong. com, where HKTB is providing instant updates on the latest measures to assist visitors.
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