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[Wuhan Pneumonia] More than 100 retailers strike for rent, Harbour City, more than 40 shops in the new city open

2020-02-18T10:47:49.204Z


The outbreak caused by the new coronavirus continues, and the retail industry in Hong Kong is in a super cold winter. Today, about 50 brands and about 200 retailers participated in the strike, requiring owners, led by developers, to reduce rents. Merchants participated in Harbour City under Wharf Real Estate, K11 Musea under New World Development and New City Plaza under Sun Hung Kai Properties. A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" visited a number of shopping malls in the afternoon and found that there were about 30 shops in the harbor city that were not open. Some shops posted notices indicating that the business was suspended for one day due to the current market conditions. There are also many shops in New City Plaza and K11 Musea that are not open. Other businesses said that business was even worse than last year's anti-revision campaign. In January, business was 80% lower than in December when tear gas flew.


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Written by: Chen Jingqi, Li Enci, Yuan Yuan, Wang Jieen

2020-02-18 18:39

Last updated: 2020-02-18 18:45

The outbreak caused by the new coronavirus continues, and the retail industry in Hong Kong is in a super cold winter. Today, about 50 brands and about 200 retailers participated in the strike, requiring owners, led by developers, to reduce rents. Merchants participated in Harbour City under Wharf Real Estate, K11 Musea under New World Development and New City Plaza under Sun Hung Kai Properties.

A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" visited a number of shopping malls in the afternoon and found that there were about 30 shops in the harbor city that were not open. Some shops posted notices indicating that the business was suspended for one day due to the current market conditions. There are also many shops in New City Plaza and K11 Musea that are not open. Other businesses said that business was even worse than last year's anti-revision campaign. In January, business was 80% lower than in December when tear gas flew.

▼ New City Plaza Situation ▼

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The promoters of the store strikes said in a radio program today that the strikes were mainly in the retail sector, initiated by foreign companies or large and medium-sized merchants. In addition to the retail industry, the tenants participating today also have restaurants. He also pointed out that although some real estate developers announced rent reductions, taking Sun Hung Kai as an example, only some tenants benefited, and no tenants have received written notices to date; airports or MTR shopping malls have "failed real estate developers". Months of "zero funding". He said that he hopes the mall can synchronize with them through the winter.

About 30 shops in Harbour City are closed for one day

A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" visited Harbour City Shopping Center this afternoon and found that about 30 stores in the Harbour City were not open. Among them, about 4 stores in the Gateway Shopping Center posted notices outside the door, stating that in view of the current market conditions, the stores Today (18th) is closed for one day, including HOBBS and WHISTLES; there are also 4 shops that will be closed due to the spread of the epidemic until further notice, without specifying when they will reopen, including at the Maritime Tower MAMMUT, GEOX.

Watsons, KFC and other chain stores are also closed

As for the children's clothing area on the ground floor of the Ocean Building, the suspension of shops is even more serious. More than a dozen shops have not been open, and the same notice has been posted outside the door, saying that they must be closed due to market conditions. And international brands FENDI, KENZO, EMPORIO ARMANI, etc.

In addition, although some stores are open, it is also stated that depending on the situation, the business hours will be shortened. The stores will be closed earlier than 8 pm, and the stores that remain open will post notices outside the door to remind customers to wear masks when entering the store. Some stores will also take their temperature first.

▼ Harbor City Situation ▼

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New City Plaza suspends multiple stores

In New City Plaza, the reporter of "Hong Kong 01" found that many stores were suspended. It is unknown whether all of them were related to the strike. Shops that are not open today include MAMMUT, GEOX, Watsons Health, Cookie Quartet, LADY M, Yasul Macau cuisine, Youpin 360 and more. Most of the stores did not post notices, and Lady M wrote in the notice, "One day off, please forgive me. We are perfectly healthy. Don't worry."

Some chain clothing store staff said that in January this year, the passenger flow and business volume had fallen by nearly 80% compared with December last year. The boss was concerned about today's strike, but after many considerations, he decided to continue business as usual. An electronic equipment store clerk said that the business volume in these two months has dropped by more than half from the end of last year, but he has not received information about today's strike.

Earlier, local media said that Harbour City, a subsidiary of Wharf Real Estate, had notified tenants via email last Wednesday (12th) that it would reduce its rent by 50% in February. It was also implementing a series of measures to combat the epidemic to protect customers and tenants . In response to an inquiry last week, Wharf Real Estate stated that it has signed a confidentiality agreement with the tenants, and all the contents of the negotiations and contractual arrangements are not announced.

Sun Hung Kai Properties did not respond to the inquiry of the merchants in New Town Plaza and only reiterated that it would reduce or reduce the basic rent in February from 30% to 50% for businesses with business difficulties.

▼ Hong Kong's abnormal daily life under the epidemic ▼

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The promoter has stated that it will continue to stop the market until the owner responds

The promoter stated earlier on the radio program that the reduction of rents by real estate developers only benefited some tenants, and that the airport or the MTR shopping malls had zero subsidies. Frankly speaking, social events and pneumonia had reduced business by nearly 90%; He said that the market will continue to stop in the future until the owners respond.

[Wuhan Pneumonia] 90% of merchants' business dropped, today launched a strike to require owners to reduce rents

[Wuhan Pneumonia] Citizens Promote Officials to Reduce Salaries

One Beijing Road Reduces Retail and Restaurant Tenants' Rents in February

[Wuhan Pneumonia] 800 private education institutions jointly sign government zero support and hope to pay half of the rent

Wuhan Pneumonia Harbour City New City Plaza K11 Xindi New World Jiucang Real Estate

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2020-02-18

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