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An employee of a Lan Kwai Fong bar gets ready for action. Photo: Nora Tam

Coronavirus: Hong Kong bar scene back in business but it’s a slow start after social-distancing rules are eased

  • With epidemic levelling off locally, some restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus were relaxed on Friday
  • For the 12th time in the past 19 days there were no new infections recorded in Hong Kong
Bars and other entertainment venues were finally allowed to reopen their doors on Friday after more than a month of coronavirus measures, but Hong Kong’s famed nightlife scene was far from buzzing as people remained wary over the potential risk of infection.

But along with the caution there was a sense of optimism from customers and business operators alike.

A day after the city detected four imported cases in Hong Kong residents returning from Pakistan, the number of new infections dropped to zero again, with the tally standing at 1,044. It marked the 12th time in the past 19 days that no new infections had been recorded. It was also the 19th straight day of no locally transmitted cases.

Some establishments such as restaurants and salons reported more bookings on Friday but did not expect a full return to business while other social-distancing rules remained in place and tourists were unable to return. For their part, customers were happy to see venues reopen but said they would diligently follow the rules still in place.

But as Hong Kong eased its rules, there was a stark reminder from South Korea. The government there was advising its bars and nightclubs to again close for a month after a cluster of at least 13 new infections was reported following the reopening of premises in late April when the original closure order ended.

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With the epidemic levelling off locally, some restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the virus were relaxed on Friday, including bars and pubs, gyms, cinemas, beauty salons and massage parlours being allowed to reopen.

These types of establishments were closed in phases since late March. Gyms and cinemas were among the six types of premises ordered to suspend operations since March 28. Bars and pubs were forced to halt business from April 3. Beauty and massage parlours had been closed since April 10.

Under the latest arrangements, bars and pubs were allowed to resume operations under certain conditions, including capping the number of customers at no more than half of the original capacity, sitting no more than four people to a table and no live music.

Bar operators were relieved to get back to business despite the lukewarm response from drinkers.

California Tower in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong, the city’s main entertainment district, displayed large posters urging revellers to “stay safe and play safe” and masks, temperature checks and hand sanitiser were a must for patrons.

There are few lunchtime customers at this Lan Kwai Fong spot. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

“After being closed for almost a month and a half, opening feels like a relief,” said Ravi Beryar, operations director of the bar Rula Live.

The bar, which had five customers, would typically be full with dozens of drinkers.

But it was a quiet happy hour all round. At about 7pm, people trickled into the area, but not all bars were open and not many customers occupied outdoor tables or spilled onto the street, a common sight in the days before the pandemic.

It was much the same story across the harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui’s Knutsford Terrace, a popular spot filled with bars and restaurants. None of the outlets were packed, though some had filled their seats with customers.

Yvonne Chan, who works at Spanish restaurant El Cid there, struck a cautious tone. “The pandemic is so ferocious that people would rather stay home,” she said.

In Lan Kwai Fong, Shaun Sales, 42, a worker in the financial technology sector, was enjoying his birthday celebrations in a party of four.

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“There is only one thing we can do: we can show our support if you have a job, are still employed and not financially in a difficult position, I think you should come out and support the local industry. We’re all residents of Hong Kong and all have to live here,” he said.

“It’s quite a bit quieter here for sure. I think we’re all optimistic things are going to return to normal again and recover.”

Roberto Jones was looking forward to dinner in a group of eight at a Causeway Bay restaurant. “I do not feel worried as our collective actions have led to exceptionally low infections. Let’s not break the formula though, and continue to follow guidelines,” he said.

Cinema-goer Robert Wharmby went to see a movie in Central – with only three people in the audience. He said their temperatures were checked upon arrival and everyone wore a mask.

On Friday morning, Simon Belfitt trained again for the first time in weeks at Pure Fitness in Central.

He said gyms could only do so much, and it was up to people to practise good hygiene. “The gyms obviously need to do their bit too by keeping surfaces clean and by taking temperatures,” he said.

Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman Allan Zeman believed the government would need to see a longer period of zero infections before relaxing more measures.

“I think the government needs at least another two weeks of zero infections,” he said. “I think after one month, I imagine the government will relax … and Hong Kong will get back to business.”

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This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Happy hours are here again, but party crowd plays by rules
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