Evening Ban At Restaurants Slammed As 'stupid' Move

The convenor of the Small and Medium Restaurant Federation Gordon Lam has criticised the government for halting dine-in services at night, saying it was a "stupid" move that gives an impression that the coronavirus rages only in the evening.

Lam, who's also a Civic Party member, warned that the new measures imposed after the latest Covid-19 outbreak in the city will see many restaurants go out of business. Other restrictions include limiting each table to a maximum of four people during the day.

In a press conference, he questioned the logic of banning customers from dining in after 6pm, saying it is stupid and illogical, and sends the wrong message to people that the coronavirus can only be transmitted at night.

Lam said restaurants will now have to scramble to source takeaway boxes which he fears will become more expensive than face masks, as the entire industry will be competing for supplies. He's worried this will result in a supply shortage.

He added that some restaurants aren't accustomed to offering takeaway services. "We’re afraid [about] the quality of the food ... [and] hygiene problems."

Other restaurant owners who were at the briefing also accused the government of failing to understanding the difficulties they're facing, saying they are “paying” for the government’s mistakes in its virus containment strategy.

They also questioned why the government didn’t try to see how the four-per-table limit works at night first, before going straight to the 'drastic' move of banning dine-in services entirely during the evening.

Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam called on the government to introduce a third round of relief fund to restaurants as soon as possible, as Legco’s term is ending on Friday.