Return Of Live Shows Is Music To LKF Chief's Ears

Hong Kong's bars were set to resume offering live shows on Thursday as a 280-day ban officially came to an end, with nightlife entrepreneur Allan Zeman hailing the news as "music to his ears".

But speaking on RTHK's Hong Kong Today programme, the chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group said many performers had left Hong Kong while the ban was in place, and he doubted whether all would be able to return.

"If there's no live music, and DJs were not allowed either, you know, it was pretty tame in the bars," Zeman told RTHK's Ben Tse. "But I think that live music, you get that atmosphere back again, people go out, life restarts again. It kind of went to sleep for a while."

Zeman said a lot of bars and clubs had closed during the restrictions, but he hoped that new businesses would take the opportunity to open, and more musicians would put on shows there.

He said he hoped there would be "more opportunities for them, in order for them to earn a living.

"Many have families to support, they have children going to school, so I always felt very, very bad for them," Zeman added. "Hopefully with life coming back to normal for them, they'll be able to survive again.

Under the rules announced last week, performers will have to do PCR tests twice a week, and test negative on an RAT test before entering the premises. They must keep masks on where possible and maintain a distance from the audience.

Meanwhile Zeman said there was no doubt that the soccer World Cup, which kicks off next month, would provide a further boost, adding "hopefully better days are ahead for us."