Coronavirus: three Hong Kong bar operators charged with breaking government order to close amid Covid-19 lockdown
- Owners and manager of Virgo bar, and owner of Barbe bar, both in Tsim Sha Tsui, appear at Kowloon City Court
- Lam Pak-wang, Ng Tan, and Leung Lap-yan bailed to reappear next month
Three bar operators have been charged with violating a government order to close all bars and pubs amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Prosecutors told Kowloon City Court on Monday that two venues in Tsim Sha Tsui had flouted a health regulation that temporarily banned premises mainly used for the sale of alcohol from opening.
On April 10, police arrested Lam Pak-wang, 41, the owner of the Virgo bar, and Ng Tan, 49, the bar’s manager. Officers also arrested Leung Lap-yan, 42, who owns the Barbe bar, the following day.
The trio were each charged with one count of failing to comply with the directions of the secretary for food and health, issued under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance.
Acting principal magistrate Ada Yim Shun-yee adjourned their cases to allow them time to seek legal advice, after learning prosecutors were ready to hear the defendants’ pleas.
Lam and Ng will return to court on May 25, while Leung will appear on May 18. They were each granted a HK$5,000 (US$645) bail, subject to a travel ban.