Politics
Written by: Ruimin Zhai
2020-02-14 23:50
Last updated: 2020-02-14 23:50The new pneumonia epidemic in Wuhan has continued to spread, and business in Hong Kong's catering and retail markets has been hit hard, with massive layoffs or bankruptcies. Chief Executive Lin Zhengyue held a press conference this evening (14th), announcing the establishment of a 10 billion yuan epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic fund, including funding for travel agencies, restaurants and retail industries. Among them, large restaurants and snack stalls will issue a one-time 200,000 yuan and 80,000 yuan subsidy.
Niu Shaobao CEO Huang Jielong believes that the allowance should help the industry "top up" to solve the problem of cash flow disruption and pay for incoming goods and salaries. Lin Ruihua, the convener of the SME Restaurant Alliance, criticized the measures for failing to deal with the problem. They worry that once a community outbreak occurs, consumers' confidence will be attacked in an all-round way.
Huang Jielong described the industry as unprepared due to the rapid development of the epidemic, and is now in the most dangerous predicament in decades. (Profile picture)
Huang Jielong, chairman and chief executive officer of Xufulou, which manages catering brands such as beef shabu-shabu and horns, has previously decided to halve his labor force in response to the epidemic, insisting on not cutting staff and dismissing colleagues. Huang Jielong thanked the government for its measures. According to the number of restaurant licenses, it should involve up to 3 billion yuan in funding. According to his impression, the government has never issued such a large denomination of cash to the catering industry. Huang Jielong described the industry as unprepared due to the rapid development of the epidemic, and is now in the most dangerous predicament in decades.
Huang Jielong believes that large restaurants will receive a subsidy of 200,000 yuan, which should help the industry "top up". At this stage, the most important thing is to issue subsidies to the industry as soon as possible to solve the problem of cash flow disruption, pay for incoming goods and pay. Waiting expenses allow the restaurant to maintain its operation. He also pointed out that he understands that the government will not have a single measure to help the industry. He hopes that all sectors of the society can help each other to overcome difficulties in order to prevent the unemployment rate from soaring and a large number of grass-roots unemployment.
Lin Ruihua: It seems that the problem is not solved after taking the painkiller when the fever is over.
Lin Ruihua, the convener of the SME Restaurant Alliance, said that the evaluation allowance is "better than good", but only in a hurry. For large restaurants, 200,000 yuan is left after paying the rent. A month's rent also needs to be 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. With artificial hydropower, it is questioned that the 80,000 yuan allocation "can bear a lot of resistance." It describes the subsidy as taking painkillers while having a fever, and the pain still exists after the medicine.
Lin Ruihua is also worried that there are new cases of infection every day. Once a community outbreak occurs, it will comprehensively dampen consumer confidence and bring the catering industry to a more severe situation. He believes that comprehensive customs clearance and epidemic prevention work are the cure.
Lin Ruihua mentioned that some tenants are worried that the government will introduce subsidies and there will be excuses to refuse to reduce rents. (Profile picture / Photo by Luo Junhao)
Restaurant worries owners refuse to reduce rents Huang Jielong: Real estate developers respond positively
Lin Ruihua also pointed out that some restaurants have expressed concerns about the government's introduction of subsidies, and the owners will have an excuse to refuse rent reduction. In disguise, the subsidy will be "left-handed and right-handed." He suggested that the government should take the lead in reducing rents for tenants to encourage the industry to follow suit.
Huang Jielong thinks that there is no need to worry about this. He said that he met with 7 major real estate developers yesterday, and the other party was positive about rent reduction. Some of them have announced that they will reduce rents for their merchants. Huang Jielong also revealed that some real estate developers expressed their hope that the government would help the merchants, so it was inferred that the owners would also welcome this measure.
Zhang Yuren, a member of the Liberal Party Legislative Council, also welcomed the measures announced by the government, describing the funding as timely.
Travel agency proprietors' associations say that sending charcoal in the snow will prompt distribution
The Hong Kong Travel Agents Proprietors Association welcomes the Government to issue 80,000 yuan to each licensed travel agency. The chairman of the association, Ye Qingning, and the chairman, Liang Guoxing, proposed to the Financial Secretary Chen Maobo earlier that each travel agency should pay 150,000 yuan. Although the final amount did not meet the requirements of the association, they believed that the charcoal had been used in snow. The Association hopes that the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council will approve it as soon as possible, and simplify the travel agency application process, and issue the payment as soon as possible.
Shao Jiahui, a member of the Liberal Party ’s wholesale and retail legislative council, said that based on more than 60,000 retail merchants in Hong Kong, the government ’s current investment is about 5 billion yuan, which will help some small, medium and micro enterprises that are in hot water. Hope that The government has tried to simplify the procedures and make payments as soon as possible so that Chinese and micro enterprises can immediately use them for expenses such as rent and employee compensation.
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Wuhan Pneumonia Huang Jielong
