'LKF Bars May Not See Normalcy Return Quickly'

The director of the Lan Kwai Fong Association, Anthea Cheung, said on Friday that she doesn't thinks bars in the popular entertainment area will get busy straightaway as many people may still want to avoid being in crowded places.

Talking on an RTHK programme after a closure order for bars and pubs was lifted overnight, Cheung said many owners are taking a wait-and-see approach as they prepare to restart their establishments after a gap of more than a month.

She also said staff at such places will politely ask their customers to wear a mask when they have finished eating and drinking, but acknowledged that this would be difficult to enforce.

I hope the law enforcement agencies will be flexible on this matter, she said.

Cheung said she hopes revenues will go up gradually as people feel more confident about going to bars.

She said some bars had to lay off staff and at least four establishments in Lan Kwai Fong closed down after entertainment venues were shut due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Four bars in Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai had been linked to a cluster of dozens of coronavirus infections.

Such business were allowed to resume from midnight and some bars in the Mong Kok area promptly opened their doors, attracting some thirsty customers.