Coronavirus: Hong Kong restaurants breaching social-distancing rules could be barred from government aid, official says as 1,700 warnings issued
- Health authorities have conducted 32,000 inspections and handed down 30 fines of HK$2,000 each to operators
- Eateries are among businesses set to benefit from HK$137.5 billion relief package
Restaurants that breach social-distancing measures could be disqualified from receiving government relief, Hong Kong health authorities have warned.
Director of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Vivian Lau Lee-kwan said on Sunday that 1,700 warnings had been issued to restaurants which did not observe coronavirus prevention measures, including keeping tables at least 1.5 metres apart. Eleven operators are facing legal action.
Reminding restaurants against asking diners from different groups to share tables, Lau added that authorities had conducted 32,000 inspections on eateries. About 30 fines of HK$2,000 each were dished out.
“If restaurants are found to have breached the measures, we will look at their applications closely and consider disqualifying them from receiving government subsidies,” Lau said on a morning radio programme.
Eateries are among the businesses set to benefit from a HK$137.5 billion relief package unveiled on Wednesday, as many have been struggling since the health crisis gripped the city in January.
Under the scheme, the government will cover a part of workers’ wages for six months, capped at HK$9,000 monthly, for employers who do not lay off their staff.
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Hong Kong surpassed 1,000 Covid-19 cases on Saturday with 11 new patients.