Bar Operators Slam 'double Standards' Of Covid Curbs

The vice chairman of the Hong Kong Bar and Club Association accused the government of "double standards" saying it's unfair that restaurants are allowed to stay open while bars have to remain shut as the Covid-19 situation eases.

Speaking to an RTHK radio programme, Chin Chun-wing said the bar industry understands they have a responsibility to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus, but with the number of cases now in single digits, it's unreasonable for authorities to continue to force bars to stay closed indefinitely.

Chin accused the government of double standards, saying that there of the about 8,000 liquor licenses in Hong Kong, around 1,280 of them are held by bars while the rest are held by restaurants.

He said it was unfair that that restaurants are allowed to continue selling food and alcohol, while bars that just sell alcohol are forced to close, and accused the government of being biased towards restaurants.

A number of anti-epidemic measures were relaxed on Friday, with massage parlours and fitness centres allowed to reopen with some social distancing measures in place, and the dining in period in restaurants extended until 10pm.