Hong Weimin, a representative of the Hong Kong People's Congress, had an outbreak at his birthday party on January 3, and a total of two people were diagnosed.
The Spanish restaurant involved reopened today (25th) after 21 days.
"Hong Kong 01" visited the scene in the afternoon, only a few guests dined, which was quite deserted.
When the reporter inquired about the details of the party, the staff initially said that the cocktail party could accommodate more than 200 people, and then pointed out that there was no limit to the number of people in the running water party.
However, the staff later said that the boss would not accept the reservation for the time being.
However, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor publicly stated on the 11th that the restaurant operates in an assembly line and it is impossible to meet the strict requirements of a Category D restaurant.
Compared with the party photos exposed on the Internet, the location where Hong Weimin sang with his microphone on the day of the birthday party should be the restaurant near the cashier, not the VIP room.
(Photo by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
The restaurant has about 120 seats and only two diners in the afternoon
Two guests who attended Hong Weimin's birthday party have contracted the virus one after another. The restaurant involved, Reserva Ibérica, is also suspected of violating the epidemic prevention requirements of a Category D restaurant. It has been closed since January 7 and reopened today (25).
The reporter came to inspect the scene. At about two o'clock in the afternoon, there were only two guests in the restaurant, and the scene was deserted.
Compared with the party photos exposed on the Internet, the location where Hong Weimin sang with his microphone on the day of the birthday party should be the restaurant near the cashier, not the VIP room.
(Photo by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
Hong Weimin's photo in the center of the restaurant should be chartered for a banquet
The reporter sat in as a customer, and the staff, according to the regulations, required to show the record of "Travel With Peace of Mind" before entering the restaurant.
The restaurant is divided into seats in Zone C and Zone D. One seat can seat 4 and 6 people respectively. If you take a seat in Zone D, the staff also asks to check the vaccination record.
According to the reporter's observation, the restaurant provides a total of about 120 seats and two VIP rooms.
Comparing the scene environment, at the birthday party, Hong Weimin put one hand on the shoulder of the fourth constituency election committee Zeng Fengzhu, and the other held a photo of the microphone singing, which was taken in the center of the restaurant.
In other words, Hong Weimin should be hosting a banquet in a private room that night, not just renting a VIP room.
The staff pointed out that the restaurant can hold a cocktail party of 240 people, saying that if it is carried out in a running water format, it can be as many guests as possible.
(Photo by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
▼The first day of the reopening of the restaurant involved in Hong Weimin's birthday party▼
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The staff said that the water banquet is unlimited and the cocktail party is limited to 240 people.
The restaurant is still classified as a Category D restaurant. According to the guidelines of the FEHD, the maximum number of guests for a Category D restaurant is 240, but at the same time, it is stipulated that the occupancy rate of this category of restaurants shall not exceed the usual number of seats in the restaurant.
The reporter asked the restaurant staff whether the party could still be held in a private room. The staff said that if guests "sit low food", it can accommodate more than 100 people. "The table can be moved freely, and a maximum of eight people can be one." However, The staff also pointed out that the restaurant can hold a cocktail party of 240 people: "If it is carried out in the form of running water, as many guests can be."
According to the reporter's observation, the restaurant provides a total of about 120 seats, with two VIP rooms, and the number of Hong Weimin's birthday parties is suspected to exceed the usual number of seats in the restaurant.
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After 20 minutes, the staff said that there was no reason for the suspension of the booking application
20 minutes later, the reporter asked about the details of the reserved room. The staff added that after asking the boss, the reserved room is not accepted at present, or the application for the reserved room will not be accepted until March or April, but the reason is not explained.
Although the restaurant is temporarily closed for reservations, the number of people mentioned by the staff for cocktail parties and flowing water banquets exceeds the usual number of seats in the restaurant.
Furthermore, Hong Weimin held a flowing birthday party at the restaurant venue that day, which has long been suspected of violating epidemic prevention regulations.
▼The situation of the restaurant involved in Hong Weimin's birthday party after the outbreak in early January▼
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Chief Executive: Flowing water banquets do not meet the requirements of Category D restaurants
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor told the media on the 11th that according to the information provided by the FEHD, the restaurant involved did not meet the requirements of Category D restaurants: "One table and one table are required to let us know that the restaurant meets the requirements. How can it meet the strict requirements of Class D restaurants?”
At Hong Weimin's birthday banquet, the flow-through operation of "flying all over the place" without wearing masks involved an epidemic prevention violation, and each guest may be fined 5,000 yuan.
A restaurant that violates the rules can be prosecuted and, upon conviction, the person in charge can be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned for six months.
After the incident, the Center for Health Protection has been unable to grasp the actual number of people who attended the birthday party on that day. Zhang Zhujun, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases, once said that the CCTV in the restaurant did not work.
However, the reporter returned to the scene on the 12th and found that there were at least eight CCTV cameras outside the restaurant, and some of the cameras had lights on, which means they were connected to the power supply.
The restaurant involved opened in December last year, and Hong Weimin sent a flower basket to congratulate him. The owner, Ye Weilong, said on the 11th that he was not responsible for the operation of the restaurant and refused to respond to reporters' inquiries.
On January 3, Hong Weimin held a birthday party at Reserva Ibérica, a restaurant in Wanchai Wanjing Center, with more than 200 people. Two of the guests who attended were later diagnosed with the Omicron variant virus.
Thirteen senior officials, including Secretary for Home Affairs Xu Yingwei, Deputy Secretary Chen Jizhi, Director of Immigration Au Ka-hong, Commissioner of Police Xiao Chak-yi, and 16 members of the Legislative Council attended the party and were required to undergo quarantine or be isolated at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre.
Among them, Xu Yingwei was asked by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to take leave until the fourth day of the new year.
Before attending the Executive Council on the 25th, Carrie Lam said that the investigation into the officials involved in the birthday party had come to an end, and she hoped to announce the follow-up actions before the Lunar New Year. She also pointed out that she was still disappointed with Xu Yingwei.
▼Hong Weimin's birthday banquet has been fermented for several days▼
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Hong Weimin's Birthday Banquet｜The restaurant's CCTV doesn't work?
The reporter found that there was a camera connected to the power supply Xu Yingwei knew to stay with Carrie Lam a few years ago and ordered a leave: Disappointed, officials must not embarrass the government
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