Omicron entered the community. Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced today (5th) that restaurants will be banned from dine-in dinners on Friday (7th), and the number of people per table will be tightened. The bar will be closed again for two weeks.
Huang Jiahe, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Catering Industry Association, said that the government has never consulted the industry on this issue and criticized the measures for pushing too hastily. Many diners have canceled reservations. It is expected that the business of the catering industry will drop by 4 billion yuan this month. He is even more worried about the ban. If the food measures are not relaxed two weeks later, the industry will miss the Spring Festival New Year’s reunion, group worship and spring tea business, and repeat last year’s hardship.
Qian Junyong, chairman of the Bar Association, also criticized that the government has never consulted and issued warnings to the industry. It denounced the Hong Kong government for inadequate epidemic prevention and supervision but to "pay the bill" for the bar industry. It missed the peak season business before the Chinese New Year. It is expected that each bar will be closed for at least two weeks at a loss. 150 thousand yuan, urge the government to push the epidemic prevention fund again, compensate 100,000 yuan to each bar, subsidize rent and employee salaries.
▼1.4 Inspection of the closed area of Galway Building in Causeway Bay▼
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It is difficult for restaurants to handle food ingredients and manual arrangements in a short period of time
Huang Jiahe said that the epidemic has not spread in the community, and he believes that there is no need to rush to tighten restrictions on dining in restaurants. He revealed that the government had not consulted the catering industry before tightening the restrictions on gatherings. The measures were implemented hastily and ignored the industry In such a situation, it is difficult for restaurants to deal with ingredients, arrange manpower, and change business strategies in a short period of time.
If the ban on dine-in food is extended to the Lunar New Year, the group will lose the Spring Tea business. Huang Jiahe: Repeat the hardship of last year
He said that the Lunar New Year is approaching, and January and February are the peak seasons for the traditional catering industry. Many companies will book tables for group worship and spring tea in restaurants. Originally, it was estimated that the business volume of the industry could reach 10 billion yuan this month. It can reach 9 billion a month, but the night market is suddenly suspended for two weeks. Nowadays, diners have called to cancel reservations. It is expected that the entire catering industry will lose 4 billion yuan. If the ban on dine-in food continues, the industry’s losses will be even greater. The restaurant is also unable to do wedding business, and will repeat the mistakes of last year's epidemic.
He worries that the ban on dine-in food and the limit on the number of people per table will continue next month. He is worried that many restaurants will be difficult to operate or there may be a wave of closures. He urges the government to consider providing subsidies as last year, but he is worried that the warehouse will not be able to continue to subsidize the business community.
He emphasized that the fifth wave of the epidemic has not yet erupted and the government should not suddenly tighten restrictions on gatherings. He emphasized that the government should strike a balance in epidemic prevention measures, otherwise it will affect people's livelihood and paralyze Hong Kong's economy again.
Qian Junyong, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
(Photo by Lu Yiming)
Qian Junyong, Chairman of the Bar Association: The industry has to pay the bill for weak government supervision
Qian Junyong, chairman of the Bar Association, also expressed that he is deeply dissatisfied with the government's hasty implementation of new restrictions on gatherings. He emphasized that the new wave of outbreaks stems from weak government supervision, but now the bar industry is "paying the bill", emphasizing that bars have complied with the government's epidemic prevention measures. Regulations include the mandatory use of "travel with peace of mind." Employees and diners have been given injections. In recent months, bars have no more outbreaks, but their living space has been stifled.
He continued that this month is the peak season for the bar industry. Each bar’s business volume is at least 300,000 yuan, and the business has been closed for two weeks. At least 150,000 yuan has been lost. For the tightening of epidemic prevention measures this time, each bar will be compensated 100,000 yuan, and the government is recommended to continue to implement the "vaccine bubble" to allow citizens who have received injections to continue to have fun. Otherwise, there is no difference whether there is an injection.
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The New Year’s Eve variable has been voted for multiple stalls. The florist owner is worried: If the flower market stops, the whole line will be buried
Although the new round of anti-epidemic measures did not mention the Lunar New Year Flower Fair to be held on January 26, some florists have worried that the government will suddenly cancel the Lunar New Year’s Eve as last year or change the rules of the game drastically.
The shop that has been operating a flower shop for many years advocated that Tai Yuan was optimistic about the Lunar New Year Fair this year and put in stalls in Victoria Park, Tseung Kwan O and other districts. However, the Omicron epidemic suddenly broke out. She worried that the government would suddenly stop the Lunar New Year’s Eve as last year. Just like last year, the company has been reluctant to announce the latest developments and will be "the whole bank will be buried together", emphasizing that the industry and farmers rely on Lunar New Year's Eve business for their livelihoods throughout the year.
Mrs. Zhang also stated that now there is only less than three weeks left before the Lunar New Year’s Eve, and the industry has begun to place orders. The government is urged to announce the latest arrangements for the Lunar New Year’s Eve as soon as possible so that the industry has sufficient time to prepare back-up plans, including short-term rental of street shops and reducing the order quantity. Be able to join hands with connoisseurs to be a hawker and "sell them out of the street."
She continued that despite the scale reduction last year, the flower market could eventually be held as usual. "Cut your files again. At least everyone has one." The current epidemic is not as severe as last year. I believe the government can refer to last year's practice and order files. The space between the files and the stalls is wider to reduce the risk of virus transmission. He also described "New Year's flowers are a must-have item for the New Year. Can you close the market?"
▼1.4 Inspection of the closed area of Block 2 of Tsui Ning Garden in Tuen Mun▼
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Yuan Guoyong: There are more cases of unknown origin in the community to be announced. The fifth wave of the epidemic has technically begun. Omicron | Ocean Spectrum has returned to the entire ship this morning to censor the passengers on board: For the time being, it may be considered calm for foreign domestic helpers to be infected with the epidemic or present "Victoria Park Dancing Group" Team" Leung Cheuk Wai: The community may have as many as 10 transmission chains closed area testing | Tuen Mun Tsui Ning Garden, Causeway Bay Tung Ning Building and Gaowei Building have not been diagnosed
