Hong Kong restaurants take a hit after Lunar New Year fireworks display called off as mark of respect for bus crash victims
City’s chief executive stands by decision to halt display out of respect for victims of deadly bus crash
Some Hong Kong businesses have taken a financial hit after the Lunar New Year fireworks were called off out of respect for victims of one of the city’s deadliest traffic accidents, a lawmaker said, as Hong Kong’s leader defended her decision to halt the display.
Tourism sector legislator Yiu Si-wing said cancelling the fireworks, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday, had hurt business at restaurants, shops and hotels.
“On the surface, it seems like it would not be a big deal to cancel [the fireworks], but there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that travel agencies have to take care of … there are bound to be losses,” Yiu said on a radio programme on Saturday.
Restaurants with a view of Victoria Harbour, where the fireworks are usually held, were affected the most, Yiu said.
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“According to my understanding, a third of the customers had backed out of their reservations,” he said.
On the same radio show, Travel Industry Council chairman Jason Wong Chun-tat suggested that the government could give priority to affected industries if the government was planning to organise any activities in the future.