'Govt Finally Gets How Bars And Clubs Are Suffering'

The Hong Kong Bar and Club Association has welcomed the announcement of another round of relief measures for businesses, saying the government has finally understood what a blow its social distancing measures are causing to various industries.

As part of a new HK$5.5 billion package of measures for various businesses, bars and nightclubs will each be given a one-off subsidy of HK$50,000 – double the amount announced in September during the SAR's third wave of coronavirus infections.

Chin Chun-wing, the association's vice chair, said he thinks the money will save the bar industry and the jobs it provides.

"This fourth wave of coronavirus hitting Hong Kong is a super tsunami, one that you would see only in a hundred years. If not for the government's help, the entire nightlife in Hong Kong would be completely extinct," he told RTHK.

Chin said the government's latest show of support demonstrates that it finally grasps how badly businesses are suffering because of closure orders.

He said he hopes bar operators will be able to get the cash in January so that they can stay open, despite the income they will have lost throughout December.

Late last month, bars were ordered to close for the third time since the pandemic began.

The Legislative Council's Finance Committee is on Monday expected to vet the government's funding request for the new relief measures.