The epidemic situation in Hong Kong is severe. The Hong Kong government has announced earlier that it will launch the sixth round of anti-epidemic funds to subsidize all walks of life.
The Anti-epidemic Fund has set up a food court subsidy scheme in the fourth round, but "Hong Kong 01" received a complaint from the merchants of the West Kowloon Centre food court that the West Kowloon Centre, which holds the food manufacturing factory licenses of most of the food court's merchants, requires Its merchants are required to sign a new 13-month lease to disburse the subsidy for the 13th month.
Among the more than 70 tenants, about 50 tenants in charge signed an open letter asking the West Kowloon Centre to change this practice.
Some merchants admitted that under the impact of the epidemic, the business volume of most merchants has plummeted by 90%, and relevant subsidies are urgently needed. "There are many restaurants today that can do it for more than 20 months." In order to reduce the vacancy rate by any means, "there are already more than a dozen rooms that have closed before receiving the subsidy."
▼Business Situation of West Kowloon Center Food Court under the Epidemic▼
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In March last year, government funding had asked for an extension to the lease
The Government launched the fourth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund in March last year to set up a Food Court Subsidy Scheme to provide financial support to qualified licensed food factory operators. Licensees can receive a lump sum according to the floor area specified in their licenses. Over 20,000 to 100,000 yuan in funding.
However, "Hong Kong 01" received a complaint from a merchant in the West Kowloon Centre Food Court, stating that since the over 70 cooked food stalls in the plaza are all held by the owners with nine food factory licenses, and the major owners, after obtaining government funding, Instead of directly assigning it to each cooked food stall, it requires its merchants to sign a new 13-month lease to avoid renting for the 13th month, and to issue a subsidy scheme allowance.
There are more than 70 cooked food stalls in the West Kowloon Centre Food Court, all of which are held by the mall with nine food factory licences.
(Photo by Lu Yingshan)
Some restaurants have closed without rent-free
A Japanese restaurant owner who has been operating in the food court for more than two years recalled that after learning last year that the government would issue subsidies, the mall had indicated that it would apply for subsidies, but stated that "subsidies will be issued under conditions", and when applying for subsidies After posting, he was told that he had to sign a new 13-month lease before he could get the allowance for the 13th month rent-free. "How many restaurants today can do it for more than 20 months."
He said that he had complained to district councillors and even the Office of the Ombudsman at that time, but he had not received a reply. Therefore, most stall owners signed new leases in July last year to receive subsidies.
He revealed that more than 70 stall owners who signed new leases at that time have now closed down more than ten stalls due to business difficulties and changed hands to others, and none of these stalls can receive relevant allowances. The mall can take the money.”
The complaints from the merchants of the West Kowloon Centre Food Court allege that the West Kowloon Centre, which holds the food factory license for most of the food court’s businesses, requires its merchants to sign a new 13-month lease to avoid the 13th-month lease payment.
(Photo by Lu Yingshan)
Evening market ban on dine-in business drops by 90%
The government announced at the beginning of this year that there will be a fifth round of "Anti-epidemic Fund" measures, which will receive a one-off subsidy of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan based on the floor area.
This was regarded as the dawn of rescue for the industry, but how did the mall inform the merchants last week that the fifth round of the Food Court Subsidy of the Anti-epidemic Fund will be distributed in the same way. Lease renewal for 26 months.
He bluntly said that due to the impact of the epidemic, the business volume has dropped by nearly 90%. "Every day, there are only one thousand and several hundred yuan in business, which is enough for employees and not enough for rent." At present, it is very difficult to operate, and emergency allowances are urgently needed. The West Kowloon Centre requires stall owners to sign a new co-tenant before paying rent-free allowances.
▼Screenshot of the dialogue between the stall owner of the food court and the person in charge of the shopping mall rental▼
Another owner, Chow Sang, said that he had just signed a two-year contract with the shopping mall, and it has only been over three months. However, if he wants to obtain the fifth round of food court subsidies from the Anti-epidemic Fund, he will have to sign with the shopping mall for another year. If you have a contract, you will have to wait more than 30 months before you can get the subsidy.
He bluntly said that in the current severe epidemic, it is difficult to estimate whether it will be able to operate until the next year, so he has not yet signed the consent form to apply for the allowance.
He went on to point out that many stall owners may not be able to continue operating until the next year, but if they do not sign the consent to apply for the subsidy, other stall owners under the same food factory license will not be able to receive the subsidy. Shopping malls are cheaper, and other merchants will be dragged down if they don’t sign up.” He believes that the purpose of the government’s plan is to help small merchants solve their immediate needs, but now they have to wait more than two years before they can get subsidies, so stall owners can’t benefit from the measures at all.
▼The owner of the cooked food stall in the West Kowloon Center Food Court issued an open letter to the square▼
Deng Sheng, the owner of a Chinese restaurant, added that the shopping malls provide rent-free subsidies, and the amount of money that stall owners will receive is higher than that of government subsidies. The stall owner can range from 14,000 to 40,000 yuan." He believes that the stall owner in the mall should choose "you can get the subsidy immediately, but you need less money, or you can sign for an additional 13 months and then rent-free (one month)." "
Zhang Yuren, a member of the catering industry, believes that the move by the West Kowloon Center is immoral and should not be linked to the renewal of the subsidy.
(File photo/Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Zhang Yuren: Immoral
Mr. Zhang Yuren, a member of the catering industry, believes that the move by the West Kowloon Centre is immoral and should not be linked to the renewal of the subsidy. "Signing a new tenancy agreement should not be a condition for the distribution of subsidy." He continued that it is difficult to determine whether the owner's move is for the time being. If there is a violation of the law, I will learn about the incident later, and I will make suggestions to the government on the incident, "Look at the fifth and sixth rounds of the epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic fund to see if there are any details that can be improved."
FEHD: No comment
In response to the enquiry, the FEHD stated that it did not comment on the business arrangements between companies and merchants.
The spokesman pointed out that the funding scheme application form clearly states that if the applicant fills in inaccurate information or makes a false statement, the application will not be approved and the approved application will be withdrawn. Grants granted and all related expenses incurred.
In addition, the applicant may also be held liable for providing any false information or making false statements.
"Hong Kong 01" is inquiring about the incident at the West Kowloon Center and is still waiting for a reply.
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