. Earth Science News .
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Hong Kongers hit hiking trails to escape coronavirus woes
by Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) March 4, 2020

Hong Kongers are escaping the coronavirus anxiety that has gripped the crowded city by heading for the hills to find fresh air and space to exercise.

While the financial hub is known for soaring skyscrapers and cramped housing blocks, its steep mountains and remote hiking trails offer welcome relief from the COVID-19 fears which triggered the closure of public facilities.

On a narrow nature trail that winds up to High Junk Peak, overlooking the turquoise shoreline of Clear Water Bay, hikers form a queue on the steep and rocky path up to the summit.

"I've been staying at home for too long. Going out hiking, I think everyone shares the same thought -- that is to breathe some fresh air, make ourselves comfortable, enjoy the breeze and the view," 26-year-old Sadie Lam tells AFP.

Over the past weekends, long, snaking lines of people have been seen on popular trails like Lion Rock and Dragon's Back.

However, the sudden increase of walkers has left a trail of rubbish behind, including surgical masks and hand wipes, and environmental group Greenpeace is urging people to "hike without trace".

Some 101 patients have tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong, two of whom have died.

Coronavirus drags Hong Kong business outlook to record low: data
Hong Kong (AFP) March 4, 2020 - Hong Kong's business outlook hit a record low in February, according to data released on Wednesday, as the coronavirus outbreak added to the financial hub's troubles following months of political turmoil.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the city's economy plunged to its lowest mark since the gauge began, worse than the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the global financial crisis in 2007-2008.

Hong Kong's economy is reeling from the US-China trade war, pro-democracy protests last year and now the coronavirus -- a triple whammy that has created a situation Financial Secretary Paul Chan described as "exceptionally austere" as he delivered his annual budget last week.

Chan said the economy is facing "enormous challenges this year", and predicted a range of 0.5 percent growth to a 1.5 percent contraction this year.

The PMI index fell to 33.1, dropping below the previous low in April 2003, according to IHS Markit, whose report added the PMI averaged 39.9 so far for the first quarter.

The gauge has been below the 50 level that divides expansion and contraction since April 2018, though it had risen in December and January.

Markit surveys around 400 private-sector companies in Hong Kong across manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail and services to generate the index. The survey responses are collected in the second half of each month.

"The latest PMI flashed red warning lights on the dire private-sector conditions across Hong Kong in February amid the coronavirus outbreak, with the headline index plunging to an unprecedented level since the survey started in July 1998," Bernard Aw, principal economist with IHS Markit, said in the report.

"The average PMI so far for the first quarter of 2020 points to a deepening recession, raising the urgency for policy support."

The figures come just days after China's PMI was at 35.7 points in February, well below the 50-point mark that separates growth and contraction every month.

This was down from 50 points in January and the worst level since China began recording the figure in 2005.

It was also nowhere near expectations of a smaller contraction, at 45.0, according to a Bloomberg poll of analysts.


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


DISASTER MANAGEMENT
S.Africa to airlift 151 from virus-infected China within days
Johannesburg (AFP) March 1, 2020
South Africa will evacuate 151 citizens from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan within days, the health minister said Sunday, as the death toll and number of infected worldwide mounted. The virus has spread to more than 60 countries around the globe - killing nearly 3,000 people and sickening 87,000 - prompting the World Health Organization to raise its risk assessment to its highest level. The decision to airlift the trapped South Africans came after President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursd ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
S.Africa to airlift 151 from virus-infected China within days

Japan lifts evacuation order for part of disaster-hit Fukushima town

Hong Kong starts standing down riot police after budget hike

Under-fire Trump defends coronavirus response

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Hope for a new permanent magnet that's cheap and sustainable

Cloud data speeds set to soar with aid of laser mini-magnets

Creating custom light using 2D materials

Raytheon awarded $17 million for dual band radar spares for USS Ford

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Coral reefs in Turks and Caicos Islands resist global bleaching event

Reef-building coral exhibiting 'disaster traits' akin to the last major extinction event

Half of world's beaches could vanish by 2100

A dam right across the North Sea

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Antarctic ice walls protect the climate

Picturing permafrost in the Arctic

Earth's glacial cycles enhanced by Antarctic sea-ice

Huge stores of Arctic sea ice likely contributed to past climate cooling

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
With 30,000 surveys, researchers build the go-to dataset for smallholder farms

Germany's ice wine harvest fails because of mild winter

5,000-year-old milk proteins show dairy pastoralism's effect on Eurasian steppe

Pakistan struggles to combat devastating locust plague

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
21 dead as torrential rain hits Brazil

Researchers develop new explanation for destructive earthquake vibrations

More than 200,000 hit by Congo floods

Erupting Indonesian volcano spews massive ash cloud

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Malawi troops protect demonstrators in rare African exception

At least 20 killed in DR Congo militia violence

Gunmen kill 10 officers in northern Burkina Faso

DR Congo orders probe into discgarced top general's death

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Long-overlooked arch is key to fuction, evolution of human foot

Analysis reveals prehistoric migration from Africa, Asia, Europe to Mediterranean

Earliest evidence of hominin interbreeding revealed by DNA analysis

New Neanderthal skeleton unearthed from 'flower burial' site









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.