'End Restrictions On Restaurants, Beauty Parlours'

Two Liberal Party lawmakers have called on the government to lift restrictions imposed on places like restaurants and beauty parlours now the number of new coronavirus cases had plunged.

Speaking to reporters at Legco on Monday, catering sector lawmaker and party chairman Tommy Cheung said restaurants should no longer be required to space their tables 1.5 metres apart, and seat four people at most at each table.

The restrictions imposed by the government are due to end at midnight on Wednesday.

Cheung said reports that the government could ease some measures and consider allowing eateries to seat eight people at each table is not good enough, saying that the question of how many people are allowed to sit at a table is "not actually relevant now".

“I believe the problem now is not with the restaurateurs or with people going to restaurants," he said, adding that as long as staff and customers wear face masks, have temperatures checked and wash their hands, that would be enough.

Liberal party vice-chairman Peter Shiu, who represents the wholesale and retail sector, echoed Cheung's call and said establishments such as karaoke bars, fitness centres, and beauty parlours should also be allowed to resume business.

The comments come after the president of the Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, Simon Wong, said he hopes the government will relax restrictions on eateries and allow up to eight people per table.

Wong told an RTHK programme on Monday morning that some restaurants he spoke to were willing to space their tables further apart – from 1.5 metres to 1.8 meters apart – if it means they can allow more people to sit together.

He also said that the government could allow bars with outdoor seating to reopen on the condition that they take certain precautions, but that karaoke parlours should not reopen yet as they are fully-indoor and are therefore high-risk venues.