NEWS

This August the Mine Train, Raging River and Abyss will permanently close. While Mine Train and Abyss have been in operation for 20 years, Raging River has been around since 1984. These closures come after Ocean Park received a hefty bailout of billions of dollars from the Hong Kong government, as they gear up for the opening of the longawaited water park that’s set to make its debut this summer. Ocean Park has also decided to scrap the entry fee and instead implement a pay-per-ride system.

Hong Kong is set to welcome the launch of Cathay, a premium travel lifestyle brand, offering members an eclectic range of travel, spending and wellness benefits. Simply named “Cathay”, the new membership programme aims to simplify interactions with customers, while expanding the ways in which they can earn status and use miles. The new brand will cover everything from hotels and wellness breaks, to restaurants and retail therapy. Cathay will begin by launching their own credit card in Hong Kong this year which will be followed in 2022 by “a refreshed customer relationship programme”, the details of which are yet to be announced.

The F&B Run Club is on a mission to cumulatively run 384,400 kilometres, the distance from Earth to the moon. The initiative aims to promote wellbeing and mental health within the F&B industry. Raising money for two charities, participants can add their steps through the Strava app to reach the campaign’s goal. As well as promoting an active lifestyle, there are prizes and awards to be won throughout the year. Individuals can take part in any form of steps, whether it be hiking, running or walking on a treadmill. PURE Group has also joined the rally as a wellness partner and is recruiting corporate sponsors that will donate $1 per kilometre to InspiringHK Sports Foundation and Lifewire Foundation. Joining the run to the moon are influential F&B professionals, such as Syed Asim Hussain of Black Sheep Restaurants, Manuel Palacio of Pirata Group and Agung Prabow of Penicillin.

The Hong Kong government has officially launched a new scheme that means free money for permanent residents and some HKID holders. Each eligible individual can receive a $5,000 consumption voucher. Accepted payment methods under this scheme are Alipay HK, WeChat Pay HK, Tap & Go and Octopus. The $5,000 consumption voucher can be used at retail shops, market stalls, department stores, supermarkets, convenient stores, restaurants and fast food shops. Some recreational facilities, beauty salons and public transport are also open as long as they accept the agreed payment methods. This means everything from Sasa, Mannings and McDonald’s to Fortress, Broadway and even Gucci, Dior or Chanel. Registration ends on August 14.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has recently unveiled a set of animal-proof rubbish bins to combat waste. A common nuisance around the country parks in recent years has been incidents of rubbish bins being turned over or rummaged in by wildlife. Rats, monkeys and even wild boars have been known to try their luck in the past, leading to pollution and potentially dangerous encounters with the public. In an attempt to combat this problem, the government has joined forces with the Public Design Lab of Hong Kong Polytechnic University to design three anti-wildlife rubbish bins to combat against different animals. After two years of trials, the bins are now in service across Hong Kong. “The Government placed the three newly designed types of bins and containers at over 70 locations across 14 districts in Hong Kong where wild animal nuisance is commonly found,” explained an AFCD spokesman.

To highlight the value of Hong Kong’s entrepreneurs, professionals and their contributions to the city, Hong Kong Living will be launching Who’s Killing It in Hong Kong? this September. The podcast will focus on those who stand out among 7.5 million Hongkongers, whether it’s because they own a talk-of-the-town business or have lived an extraordinary, meaningful life. The podcast will be available on Apple podcasts and Spotify.