Coronavirus: Hong Kong restaurants get much-needed lift as evening dining ban ends, but many still feeling the pinch
- Smaller eateries tended to profit more from the rules relaxation, says industry figure, while city’s beauty parlours and cinemas got much-needed boost
- But some restaurants saw little reason to cheer, saying damage done by the pandemic has already sealed their fate
Hong Kong’s restaurants embraced a long-awaited lively evening on Friday as the government’s dine-in ban lifted at 6pm, a change that saw some eager diners returning to their favourite spots but many operators still gloomy about their prospects.
Businesses welcomed their first evening guests in nearly 1½ months after dine-in hours were extended by three hours to 9pm, and smaller eateries including local cafes and Japanese restaurants were packed with residents.
Similarly brisk business took place at cinemas and beauty parlours as they reopened earlier in the day, with companies enticing customers with special discounts.
But in Tsim Sha Tsui, the reopening got off to a quiet start.
On Hau Fook Street, the only restaurant with a queue was Kwong Wing Catering, a bing sutt restaurant known for its vocal support of Hong Kong’s anti-government protests.
“It’s good that they’re bringing back dining in,” said Emma Wong Kwan-shun, a 22-year-old student eating out with her parents. “It’s convenient for those living in the area.”