Bleak Prospects Seen For This Mid-Autumn Festival

The president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants predicts the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival will be the worst in 20 years for the industry.

Simon Wong estimates business was up almost 30 percent over the weekend, after social distancing measures were further relaxed.

"Business in the last weekend is recovering quite a bit," Wong said.

Bars and restaurants were allowed to operate until midnight and restaurants could seat up to four people per table, which Mr Wong said led to an increase in gatherings, although customers are reluctant to stay too long.

"They would rather eat and go," he said.

Wong said he'd noticed some restaurants that weren't following the rules, and warned that if the pandemic spread, the sector would suffer.

"I have to voice out to all the restaurant operators as well as to the citizens of Hong Kong not to take the pandemic lightly, especially nowadays," he said.

Wong said the government is reluctant to move too fast.

"They're very cautious about this situation," Wong said. "They might not want to relax the regulations at this stage."

Wong said this would take a toll on the upcoming mid-autumn festival.

"This would be one of the worst festivals we've had in twenty years."