We managed to hold on to only about 45 to 50 per cent of our business during the outbreak. I haven't paid myself for months. But I never thought about laying off staff or making them take unpaid leave. They are my most valuable asset. My wife says that if we don't make enough money we can just spend less. So long as the economy doesn't get worse we will be okay. I don't expect any profits until the end of the year. People used to buy half a chicken or duck for dinner but now they just get rice with a few pieces of meat. I always paid close attention to hygiene. That is what I am used to and what I insist on. I follow all the precautions because I don't want to infect my staff and family. It doesn't matter if I die but I don't want to bring other people down with me. One of my staff had a relative among the Amoy Gardens residents who died of Sars. I felt so sad but didn't dare ask more because I could see he was suffering inside. The public needs to be educated about personal hygiene and stop blaming people about where the disease originated. Whenever a crisis happens in China or Hong Kong the community at the market is always the first to act. The money we collected this time went to the education of Sars orphans. I want to tell our public hospital workers they are truly the world's best. I don't want financial aid because the government has limited resources. If I'm not desperate, I won't beg. When I started out in the 1960s, times were much tougher. I've been through so many ups and downs that I don't worry any more. I'm only a grassroots worker but I think people should only ask for tax cuts as a last resort. When I was raising three kids, the school tutors offered to waive their fees but I refused. I told them to help people really in need. People who grew up in the golden era have difficulty facing reality. They need to be strong and have dignity and self-respect. The world is not perfect so stop blaming people for all the bad things that happen. Times are changing and we have to compete with the world now. Hong Kong, when the going gets tough we have to be tougher. Show your Chinese virtue of never admitting defeat. The future is bright. As told to Niki Law. This is the last time that Behind the mask will appear. Thank you to all who participated.
