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| Lan Kwai Fong is back in business tonight, with many bars offering huge discounts on drinks |
Lan Kwai Fong is about to come alive again, as the order shutting down bars lapsed yesterday, paving the way for customers to
start having a drink or two from tonight in Hong Kong’s favorite night spot.
But for some, the night won’t be the same as live
entertainment and dancing in the pubs are for now, off the menu. So is karaoke.
This means many of the city’s entertainers, including the
hundreds of Filipino musicians who have been jobless for more than a month now,
still face a bleak future ahead.
For now, however, the mood across the city remains upbeat,
as no new case of Covid-19 was reported again today, leaving the total tally
still at 1,044.
It’s the 19th straight day that no local
transmission has been reported. For 7 days in between, a small number of
residents arriving from overseas were found infected on arrival at the airport,
including 4 who flew in from Pakistan
Apart from the bars, several other businesses that cater to
large crowds were closed in two phases starting on Mar 28, when cinemas, gyms
and four other establishments were shut. Bars and pubs followed on Apr 3, and
karaokes and beauty and massage parlors a week later.
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| But live entertainment is still off the menu, causing worries for many Filipino musicians |
But even before the order to shut was issued, many bars were
forced to close down after a big cluster of more than 100 cases were reported
in LFK. Those affected included not just musicians, staff and customers, but
also their families.
Speaking at a radio show on RTHK, the director of LKF
Association, Anthea Cheung, said she doesn’t think the bars in the area will
get busy soon as many people still avoid going to crowded places.
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Cheung said many bar owners are taking a wait-and-see
attitude as they open to customers again after a gap of more than a month.
They are also taking no chances, having had their staff
undergo rapid test for Covid-19 to ensure everyone is safe when they reopen.
The bars also have to conform to certain guidelines, like
sitting only four people at each table, and taking in only half their regular
capacity. Customers will also be required to wear a mask, except when eating or
drinking.
Cheung said she hopes the bars will start getting a steady
stream of customers soon so they can recover from the huge losses they incurred
because of the pandemic.
She said at least four establishments in LKF had to close
down after the outbreak became widespread.
To get business going, some bars are reportedly planning to
offer drinks at half the price, or extend their happy hour at a much lower
price.
Cinemas are offering the same deal, with half-price tickets
costing as little as $33 in some districts.
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