Crowds return to struggling Hong Kong businesses as coronavirus social-distancing rules eased

HONG KONG — Crowds of people flocked to ice-skating rinks, game centres and restaurants across Hong Kong on Friday (Sept 11), as the government eased social-distancing measures introduced to combat the coronavirus.

In a move many hope will revitalise the city’s stagnant economy, officials lifted restrictions on the number of people allowed to eat together and meet in public.

A variety of businesses, including museums, mahjong parlours, ice-skating rinks, were given permission to reopen. Indoor and outdoor sport facilities run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department can also resume operations but in phases.

However, bars and pubs, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs or nightclubs, karaoke premises, swimming pools and beaches remain closed.

More than 20 children and teenagers were rollerblading and skateboarding at Lai Chi Kok Skatepark by 3pm. Homemaker Cindy Wong Yan, 40, had brought her five-year-old son to burn off some of his energy.

“I understand why the government had to close playgrounds because they’re usually small and crowded with kids. I think it was an overreaction to close a huge outdoor space like this,” she said, referring to the park stretching across 1,600 square metres.

Ms Wong said she was not too worried about contracting the coronavirus at outdoor sports facilities, as long as there was crowd control and regular disinfection.

Marcus Wong Pak-yin, 13, said he was excited to return after being stuck at home for the summer holidays.

“The skateparks have been closed for nearly two months,” he said. “I was just very bored at home and played video games. I’m not too afraid of the coronavirus. There’s a lot of space here. I have to shower once I get home anyway because I’m so sweaty.”

At a large games centre in Sha Tin, dozens of eager fans, from teenagers to the elderly, were already glued to their consoles by about 10am.

In Tsim Sha Tsui, a major tourist and shopping neighbourhood before the pandemic hit, more people were lining up for restaurants in malls than along main streets.

Under the latest rules, four people are allowed per table in restaurants, up from two, but the ban on dine-in services from 10pm to 5am remains unchanged, while public gatherings have been relaxed from two to four people.

More than 20 customers were lined up for a table outside JS Foodies, a burger restaurant in the Harbour City shopping centre, just before 1pm. Ms Eve Leung and two of her colleagues who are on unpaid leave from a travel agency were among them.

“We think it’s safe to eat together at restaurants now because Covid-19 cases have been dropping,” Ms Leung said. “We can also use dining coupons from the shopping centre, around HKD$50 (S$9) off per person. Hopefully, the pandemic can go away soon, so more people can eat out and help the struggling restaurants.”

At NMC Noodles on Hau Fook Street, about 20 people were waiting for takeaway while four small groups queued up for a table. Ms Mary Chan and two other colleagues were among those waiting to sit down.

“It’s much more convenient now with the ease of restrictions, because before, three of us would still dine-in together, but they would separate us with one table for two and an extra table for just one person,” Ms Chan said.

It was a different story at Yuen Kee Restaurant on Granville Road, with only about a dozen diners seated, one per table, around 12.30pm.

“Business didn’t really pick up in the past two weeks, even when we were allowed to open until 10pm,” a waiter said. “Our location is at a tourist hotspot, and we really suffered a lot when tourists stopped coming.”

He said he expected groups of four to return gradually over the weekend, but added office workers might choose to order out instead, as they could enjoy a 15 per cent discount on the takeaway set menu, priced at HKD$60 per person.

At another shopping centre, Ms Angel Lam and her friend Susanne Cheung said they were relieved the social-distancing measures had been relaxed.

“Maybe we will invite more friends to dine together in the next few weeks,” said Ms Lam, who works in the hospitality industry. “We’re not particularly scared of the coronavirus.”

The pair, in their 30s, said eager foodies such as themselves had waited months to dine out with friends.

Next Thursday, 16 types of other sports venues and water sports centres will be allowed to reopen, including indoor squash courts, dance rooms and the cycling track at the Hong Kong Velodrome. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST