The epidemic has lasted for three years, and the exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland have been interrupted. Pharmacies and drugstores in the Sheung Shui area have lost a lot of business, and most of them have closed down.
Although customs clearance between the Mainland and Hong Kong is imminent, merchants in Sheung Shui said they do not have much expectation for "business to return to normal". They believe that the mode of shipping goods in the Mainland has changed in the past three years, and the previous mode of "dragging parallel goods" to pass the customs may not be repeated. He also mentioned that the milk powder sold by parallel importers back then is not wanted at all. Most of the milk powder purchased two years ago has not been sold. Even though most of the milk powder has been donated to social welfare organizations, there is still stock in the store. not processed.
Some merchants also questioned the timing of the current customs clearance, pointing out that even if they cleared the customs next month, they would not dare to return to the mainland in a short time. More than 200 million (diagnosed), go up to die, and there is no way to go to the hospital.”
Customs clearance in the mainland︱Some people in Sheung Shui are happy and some are anxiously looking forward to the first reunion in their hometown under the epidemic, fearing the reappearance of parallel importers Clearing customs in the Mainland︱The pharmacy has closed and there are many traces of parallel importers.
▼Status of shops in Sheung Shui area on December 26▼
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Before the epidemic, Sheung Shui attracted many parallel importers and mainland tourists to shop, especially on Xinkang Street, where pharmacies are flourishing, which is why it is commonly known as Parallel Importer Street.
However, the epidemic has lasted for three years, the exchanges between China and Hong Kong have been interrupted, and the parallel importers have also disappeared. The pharmacies and drugstores that used to deal with parallel importers in Xinkang Street have all closed down one by one.
The reporter visited Sheung Shui on Monday (26th) and found that Xinkang Street, Xincheng Road, Xingong Street and Fuxing Street, which were frequented by parallel traders before the epidemic, were not as prosperous as before the epidemic. After the closure of the business, the owner put up a notice for rent or sale on the iron gate, and some shops were rented out for short-term to sell New Year's flowers. However, there are still large chain pharmacies or seafood shops that are still standing under the epidemic.
As for the Xinkang Street area, according to the reporter’s on-site statistics, there are at least 29 shops that are not open. Many of them used to sell beauty products or pharmacies. The alleys and streets that are often used by parallel traders to distribute goods have also become empty, and there are fewer people on the streets.
Although customs clearance with the mainland is imminent, the heads of pharmacies in different districts do not dare to have too high expectations. One of the pharmacy owners on Xinkang Street, Mr. Lin, pointed out that in the past three years, most of the parallel importers have transformed. "Everyone has a hole and a way, and everything is stable." He thinks that the old model of manpower pulling parallel imports back to the mainland may not be repeated.
He took the sale of milk powder as an example. Now online shopping platforms can sell directly to the mainland. He believes that no one will come to Hong Kong to buy it. He also pointed out that there is no market for milk powder at present. Most of the milk powder purchased two years ago failed to sell. "It's past the drying period, and I have donated a lot to some social welfare organizations before." However, there are still stocks left in the store that have not been processed.
In order to make a living, Mr. Lin, who originally sold medicines, took advantage of the business opportunity of the Lunar New Year and switched to selling New Year’s flowers. For half an hour, there used to be a constant flow of people, and for another half an hour, can you see if there are any people?" He also pointed out that the shops in the Xinkang Street area can only do neighborhood business, and many of them have "unable to do business" and closed down. , and returned to the mainland to settle down.
He also thinks that now is not a good time to clear the customs, because the current epidemic situation in the mainland is serious. "I don't have the courage to go up if you pass the customs at Yijia. To be honest, the germs on Yijia are so sharp." Pointing out that the epidemic broke out in Macau because of customs clearance with the mainland, "You let me go there, I really don't want to go there." He described that from an economic point of view, customs clearance should be done, but from a health point of view, it shouldn't Clear the customs now, "When it stabilizes, at least go all the way through the peak period."
Ms. Liao, who is also in charge of the seafood shop on Xinkang Street, pointed out that she has not yet dared to buy in large quantities to make preparations, and she has to wait for definite news before making any plans. She also believes that even after customs clearance, the business will be difficult to return to the pre-epidemic level, " The streets are quiet.” Even if the mainlanders come to Hong Kong, they can’t get more medicines to sell, “there’s no stock.” She also worries that the landlord will take the opportunity to increase the rent after hearing the customs clearance. “When he hears the customs clearance, he will definitely Lah, it’s so hard to do, it’s really hard to do.”
Ms. Lin is also worried that the owner will take the opportunity to increase the rent because of the customs clearance. "I hope the owner can be considerate. How hard it has been in the past few years." (Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Ms. Lin, who works in a grocery store on Xinkang Street, is also worried that the owner will take the opportunity to increase the rent due to customs clearance. The grocery store is a neighborhood business. Even if the opening and closing will not help the business, if there is a rent increase, I hope it will not increase too much. Quickly, "I hope the owner can be sympathetic, how hard it has been in the past few years."
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