Officials Prepare Subsidy For Affected Trades

The Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said on Sunday the government would launch a second round of subsidy under the Anti-epidemic Fund to help businesses that were impacted by the latest social-distancing measures.

Writing in his blog, Cheung said the subsidy would aim at protecting workers. But he did not give details.

New regulations introduced at midnight are limiting people to gatherings of no more than four. It is part of a wider push for social distancing that has also seen venues such as cinemas and gyms forced to close. Among the first to experience the changes were restaurants, which have had to separate customers and reduce capacities since six o'clock on Saturday.

There were calls from the bar and restaurant trades that the government should help pay wages.

Cheung also said the government would carry out measures to fight against the spread of Covid 19 vigorously. He said the number of arrivals dropped to about 4,000 on Friday when compared to almost 15,000 on Tuesday after the government further tightened border control.