Musicians urge live performances to resume as officials mull bar reopening

By Daisy CL Mandap

HKMU officers & advisers led by Lo (in green shirt) met with Cheung to air their concerns 

Musicians are calling for the resumption of live performances as Hong Kong officials have assured that bars, karaokes and nightclubs could reopen by next week if the infection rate remains at a low level.

Manuela D. Lo, chairman of the Hong Kong Musicians Union, says she hopes the reopening of bars could again lead to live shows being allowed to resume.

“Like before, they opened the bars first, then the live music,” Lo says.

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The head of one of Hong Kong's oldest unions has kept up an appeal for help, particularly for her 100 or so members who have been jobless for months because of the ban on live shows.

Lo estimates that about 1,000 musicians have either lost their jobs or have resorted to doing unrelated work to survive since the pandemic swept across the city early this year.

Including the forced closures from protest-related violence late last year, she says most musicians have been without income for about six months.

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Among those she has called upon for help is lawmaker Tommy Cheung, who represents the catering sector in the Legislative Council.

During a meeting with Cheung on Wednesday last week, the HKMU led by Lo proposed new social distancing measures that the legislator could present to government health officials to convince them to allow live shows.

These include barring musicians from interacting with customers during their performances, for everyone to wear face masks while on stage, and to use protective shields between the performers and the audience.

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Cheung said he had already forwarded their request to the relevant authorities, but it might help if they could appeal directly to the decision-makers. He suggested a meeting between the musicians and a top policy maker as soon as possible.

Live performances were first halted in early April, following an outbreak among about 50 musicians, food servers and customers of four bars in Central, Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui.

They reopened on Jun 18, only to close again after about a month when the third wave of infections swept across Hong Kong.

Cheung has promised to arrange a meeting between HKMU and govt decision-makers

In a separate interview earlier today, Sept 12, Cheung urged the government to reopen bars, karaokes and nightclubs as soon as possible, saying the industry is happy to implement new measures needed for their businesses to reopen safely.

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His call follows a statement made by Health and Food Secretary Sophia Chan last week that pubs, karaoke bars and nightclubs could reopen next if the Covid-19 situation in Hong Kong remains under control.

Starting last Friday, various business establishments previously shut like gyms, beauty and massage parlors were allowed to reopen, and the gathering restrictions relaxed further to allow up to four people to eat and gather together in public.

Cheung has proposed that his sector could take various anti-epidemic measures such as sterilising utensils with boiling water, using e-money and limiting customer stays in the restaurant to no more than two hours, but has yet to get a definite response.

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"We met with the Chief Secretary and a whole bunch of government officials from the FEHD and all that and make our proposals. So far we have no received any word – positive or negative – about our proposals," Cheung said in a radio interview.

Earlier, the chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group, Allan Zeman, also called on the government to make good on its promise to reopen bars from Sept 18.

"The traditional bars, just for drinking, they're having major problems, many of them are on life support, I don't know how much longer they can hang on,” said Zeman in a separate interview with RTHK.

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Musicians back in business, as gathering limit raised to 50 people

By Daisy CL Mandap

HK musicians hope popular night spots like Lan Kwai Fong will come alive again - soon

In a further sign that the coronavirus threat in Hong Kong has eased, health authorities announced today, Jun 16, that the gathering ban will be relaxed further, allowing up to 50 people to get together in public starting Friday, Jun 19.

Further, restaurants may now all operate at full capacity, and pubs and nightclubs may now offer live shows and singing, although performers must wear masks and keep a distance from patrons.

This latest piece of information has buoyed the spirits of Manuela D. Lo, chairperson of the Hong Kong Musicians Union, whose 120-plus members have all lost their jobs as a result of the ban on live performances, imposed since late Apr 3.

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“I am so thankful for this. Although I am not expecting instant relief, I hope that in due time, we can all go back work,” Lo said.

She has been at pains to offer help, not just to HKMU members, but also to musicians on temporary work visas, many of whom were affected when Covid-19 swept across four bars where they worked.

Of these musicians, 24 tested positive for coronavirus, and were hospitalized for weeks. A further 49 were put under quarantine. All of them were eventually sidelined when the bars they worked at were shut, and live performances were banned.

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But at least, their employers are still providing them rent-free accommodation, said Lo.

Musicians who are permanent residents are worse hit because they have to pay rent and provide for family members despite losing their jobs, she added.

Apart from helping the stricken musicians get whatever financial relief was available from both the Philippine and Hong Kong governments, HKMU has also done its own lobbying to revive the entertainment industry.

 

Lo says musicians hope they can all go back to work in due time

Last week, Lo said she and her fellow HKMU officers met with Legislative Councilor Tommy Cheung who represents the catering industry, to appeal for help in getting live performances back in pubs and other public venues.

Lo said they were relieved when Cheung assured them of his help.

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By this time, the outlook had gotten really grim for most, if not all, musicians in Hong Kong, she said.

Most hotels, including the big ones like the Peninsula and Hyatt Regency in Tsim Sha Tsui, Grand Hyatt in Wanchai and the Marriott in Admiralty, had stopped live entertainment, leading to massive job cuts that affected even to the most seasoned musicians.

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Another fallout came just last week, said Lo, when BB Jazz, which is located in the same building as the Covid-infected Insomnia bar, decided to lay off all its staff after holding off closure for nearly three months.

“Hopefully the resumption of live performances will convince the owner to reopen the club,” said Lo.

In due time, she also hopes the entertainment scene which Hong Kong used to be famous for, will come alive again.

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In a further sign of normalcy, Disneyland is set to reopen after nearly five months, following Ocean Park’s example last weekend.

Hong Kong Book Fair, which has traditionally attracted thousands of visitors, will also open as scheduled on Jul 15.

Meanwhile, no new case of Covid-19 was reported today, keeping the total tally at 1,113. Yesterday, three imported cases were reported, involving residents who flew in from Russia and Indonesia.

Two of the patients, aged 10 and 47, were asymptomatic while the third, a 32-year-old woman who flew in from Indonesia, had fever, cough and no sense of smell.

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Protest-related violence halts ‘Concert in the Park’

By Vir B. Lumicao

The sixth of 7 bands slated  to perform managed to keep the crowd glued to their seats before concert was halted

An outbreak of violence at a protest march in Tsim Sha Tsui cut short the annual “Concert in the Park” on Sunday, Dec 1, at the Cultural Centre Piazza, by Hong Kong-based  bands.

The party mood at the pre-Christmas treat by the Hong Kong Musicians Union and the Philippine Consulate General slated to end at 7pm ended just before 4:30pm at the advice of the authorities.

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But Consul General Raly Tejada said the event still turned out well. “In fact people enjoyed so much and didn’t even realize it was cut short since only the last band (7^th in line) wasn’t able to play,” he said.

But, he added, “Safety first always. Lahat naman nakauwi ng maayos.”

CG Tejada (right) with Consul Quintin and HKMU chair Ela Lo

Earlier, at about 3:45pm, staff from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department which co-organized the event, approached ConGen Tejada and Consul Bob Quintin and told them the show should be stopped immediately.

But it took another 45 minutes before emcee Jun Paragas announced on stage that the show was being cut short, with one band still waiting to perform. That was after steps were taken to quietly advise those watching the show to leave calmly and proceed to the nearby Star Ferry.

By then, tear gas had already been deployed down Salisbury Road not far from the venue. Police had advised organizers to tell the estimated 500 spectators to leave the area via the Star Ferry to avoid the confrontation.

Thousands gathered at the Clock Tower ,about 100 meters  from the concert venue before the protest march

Just before this, guest Bheng Woolf of AFreight decided to leave the concert on hearing about the protest, and said the Star Ferry pier was already packed with people trying to leave the area.

Paragas was about to go onstage to advise people to leave when the officers stopped him, saying this could cause the crowd to panic.

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Instead, co-emcee Michael Vincent and some Consulate staff went to the piazza steps where the spectators were swaying and waving with the music and asked everyone to leave calmly.

For awhile their efforts emptied half of the venue, but when “Sound Bytes,” the event’s main attraction with their colorful costumes took over the stage, the crowd came back with LED wands in their hands.

Of the seven bands that were slated to perform in Sunday’s event, only “The Hiking Boys” failed  to go onstage and regale the crowd that included locals and westerners.

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But to show appreciation for their presence, Congen Tejada went up the gallery where the 10-man band had sat among the crowd and shook the hand of each member.

The bands performed in addition to Sound Bytes were Hard Luck Kings, Lagablab, Rockin’ Chicken, HKMU Assembly Band and Bluesy Cats.

HKMU chairwoman Manuela Lo was not amused at the turn of events.

“Ang hirap pa namang kumuha ng mga tao ngayon pagkatapos ay mapuputol lang ang concert dahil may rally,” Lo said as she moved around coordinating the show.

But she said later that “Overall, it was a success, bitin nga lang.”

It was the first time that the annual entertainment provided by mostly Filipino musicians was cut short in the more than 20 years that it has been staged in Hong Kong.

With Congen Tejada at the show were Deputy Consul General Germie Usudan, Consul Leo Tito Ausan, Consul Bob Quintin, Acting Labor Attache OIC Tony Villafuerte, Assistant Labor Attache Angelica Sunga and Welfare Officer Marivic Castro Clarin.

Tens of thousands of people joined the TST protest, which began with a mass assembly at the Clock Tower, just a few steps from the Piazza. Tensions flared when protesters deviated from the approved route at about 4pm and spilled onto the streets.

After raising the blue flag warning, police fired tear gas and other projectiles onto the crowd, which included children and elderly people.

Officers said they used minimum force to stop radical protesters who had thrown smoke bombs at them.

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Musicians plead with health officials: ‘Let us go back to work’

By Daisy CL Mandap

HKMU led by Lo (middle, with glasses) poses for pictures
with Chui (3rd from left), Cheung and Chan after the meeting

Hong Kong musicians have made an impassioned appeal to health officials to let them go back to work by allowing bars and other entertainment venues to resume live performances as soon as possible.

The plea was made by officers of the Hong Kong Musicians Union, led by its chairperson Manuela D. Lo, during a meeting on Sept 29 with Deputy Health Secretary Howard Chan and Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi.

The meeting was arranged by Legislative Council member Tommy Cheung, who represents the catering sector, and has been helping HKMU advance its cause.

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“Hear us, help us,” said an emotional Lo, as she told the officials how most of the 1,000 or so professional musicians in Hong Kong have been out of jobs since the bars were first shut on Apr 3.

Others became jobless even earlier, when the virus spread across four bars in key districts in late March, leaving more than 20 band members infected and about 50 others confined in quarantine centers.

She said many of the jobless musicians have been doing odd jobs like working for cargo companies, just to make ends meet. But others who are not permanent residents are not allowed to moonlight under their visa conditions.

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The bars were reopened on Jun 19, but were promptly closed down again when the third wave of infections swept across Hong Kong in early July. 

Lo said the tales of woes from the musicians have been heartbreaking, adding, almost in tears: “If you could give back their jobs, that would be great.”

While bars and other night spots were allowed to reopen starting on Sept 18, they are made to operate under very strict conditions. Everyone should wear a mask unless eating or drinking, and no more than two people can sit at each table, which should be kept 1.5 meters away from the next.

Bars were allowed to reopen last month, but without the live shows

Worse, especially for the musicians, is that the bars are still forbidden from having live performances, even if larger venues such as theaters and exhibition halls have been given the green light to stage shows before a live audience.

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Dr Chui replied that the government understood the difficulties faced by various sectors like the musicians, but it is now being more cautious in lifting restrictions, having learned its lesson from the recent outbreak that saw the number of infected persons rising to three digits per day.

He also noted that from just 7 deaths before the third wave of infections started in early July, there are now more than 100 casualties, which meant more than 90 patients had passed on in less than three months.

Chan assured the group that what the government wants is to ensure the safety of everyone, especially since another outbreak could come at the onset of winter.

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“All we want is to protect your health and the others, too,” he said.

He also raised concern about the spread of the virus among musicians staying in one dormitory in the second wave of infections, but was told that this was because they were imported workers, and hired by just one company that made them perform in the various bars where the disease spread.

Insomnia in Lan Kwai Fong was the first to close after the virus swept through bars

The health officials were also reminded that the infection in the bars appeared to have started not with the musicians, but with patrons, some of whom appeared to have brought back the virus from overseas.

Cheung assured the officials that the musicians were willing to undertake self-regulation to protect themselves and the community, and also convince the authorities to allow them to get back to work.

Among the measures they proposed were the following: (1) masks should be worn at all times inside the bars, even during performances; (2) all musicians must bring their own microphones and sterilize their own instruments; (3) no mingling with the guests; and (4) no bar-hopping, meaning performers will stick to one venue.

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At the same time, Cheung being a bar owner himself, said their sector could undertake to put up acrylic shields between the musicians and the audience to further lessen the chance of aerosol transmissions during a performance. 

He also suggested that wind instruments like saxophones and trumpets be not included in the repertoire for the same reason.

Tsui and Chan asked the musicians to list down all their proposals so the government can go over them and decide in the next week or two on whether they can be acted upon, as long as the situation continues to stabilize.

HKMU immediately took up the suggestion, and has already started a campaign to get their petition signed by as many musicians as possible over the holidays. The statement will then be sent to Cheung for endorsement to concerned government officials.

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What's on where

Photography 101 (Beginner’s Workshop)
A 3-hour course with Master Carl Valenzuela. Sept 18, 9:30am-12:30pm. Kennedy Town Community Complex. Fee: $100. Participants will learn about DSLR cameras, ( ISO, aperture, shutter speed ) background, perspective, framing, layering, lighting and ambient). Contact: Frederick Suarez, 69711992

South Island Art Day 2016
Sept 24, 12nn-8pm. Hosted by: South Island Cultural District. 18 galleries and art studios will open their doors to the public and host exhibition openings and art shows. Details: Check the FB Page South Island Art Day 2016

Halo-Halo Filipino Contemporary Artists Exhibit
Sept 23-24. Venue: The Hive Studios, 8th Floor, Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong. 23 Sept: 10am-4pm (general viewing), 7pm-10pm (Cocktails and VIP Viewing),    10pm-12mn (Raffle and general viewing). 24 Sept:  10am-8pm (general viewing). Contacts: M:+852 93242381. E: info@halohalo.visualspate.com. W: halohalo.visualspate.com. FB: facebook.com/halohalohk2016. (Entrance is free but raffle tickets are being sold for a chance to win one of the special artworks by the artists.

A Palette of Flavors
Colours by renowned Filipino chef, Sau del Rosario. Sept 22-24, Le Meridien, Cyberport. For details and reservation: 2980 7417

17th anniversary and 5th graduation ceremony 
Oct. 2, 11am-4pm, Fulum Palace, North Point. Organized by: Diwa't Kabayan Benlife Society. Contact person Naty Manalo at 9825-6582/9146-4178

HKMU Concert
Oct. 5, 7:30pm, Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Tickets are on sale at $150-$320. Contact: Ella Lo 9771 3655. A benefit concert for HKMU projects

Free Forum for Nurses
Oct. 9, Bayanihan Centre, Kennedy Town
Speakers from Australia and New Zealand, and agencies deploying to Germany and Qatar are coming to orient registered nurses about the working conditions in those markets. For full details, visit the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong. Like it, and message your full name and mobile number.

2016 Free Breast Cancer Screening and Mammogram
Oct. 9: 10am-1pm Breast cancer screening; 2:30 pm – 3:30pm forum. Venue: PCG Conference Room. Organized by: Philippine Consulate General and HK Breast Cancer Foundation. To register, call Lorna at 2823 8512 or Joel at 2823 8513. Limited slots available

FMWU's 18th Anniversary Celebration
Oct. 9, whole day. Chater Road, Central. Featured Activity: Poetry Reading and Writing Contest with the theme: “Unite and Struggle for Livable Wages and Regulation of Working Hours”. Organizer: Filipino Migrant Workers Union. Contact: Feliza -9104-1411, Iyang- 5119-93643 and Nida-9107-9516

2016 Migrants’ Health Matters
Oct 23, 12 noon – 6 pm. . Venue: Kik Yeung Football Pitch, Kik Yeung Road, Yuen Long, Hong Kong. PathFinders is teaming up with Christian Action to host Community Health Day for Migrant Workers in Hong Kong. Participating groups: Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, Equal Opportunities Commission and other migrant organizations that will set up health and community services information booths to distribute health-related materials and answer questions. Free admission.

Healthy Habits Selfie Competition
(Part of the 2016 Migrants’ Heatlh Matters). Aim is to promote health awareness among migrant workers. To join, simply upload your healthy habit selfie on the following Facebook pages: Christian Action Centre for Domestic Migrant Workers or PathFinders. Invite your friends to LIKE your photo and win a prize!

UAAP Rambulan 2016
Nov 26, 11am. Repulse Bay Beach. All alumni of UP, Ateneo, La Salle and UST are invited to join day-long games all in the spirit of fun and camaraderie.  For details, check out the FB invite page, Rambulan

Economic slump from protests hit Pinoy businesses, entertainers

By Daisy CL Mandap

Tourist arrivals in HK dropped by a massive 40% last month

With tourist arrivals in Hong Kong down by a massive 40% last month as a result of weeks of anti-government protests, everyone in the city is feeling the pinch – including Filipinos who are in the entertainment and tourism industries.

According to Manuela Lo, chairperson of the Hong Kong Musicians Union, many hotels have been reducing the nights when they offer live performances. Special events which have for years, been the lifeblood of many Filipino musicians, are also being cancelled all over Hong Kong on an increasingly regular basis.

But Lo says there is not much that HKMU can do to help members who are affected. “We can’t do anything at the moment, we all know business has been bad,” she says.

Filipino musicians in HK are among the hardest hit by the slump (Photo from HKMU's Facebook page)

Hermie Santos, a booking agent for entertainers at Ocean Park, has just barely escaped getting hit by the looming downturn. His talents had already been signed up by park before visitor arrivals plummeted so they’re still assured of their contract wage.

This is despite an apparent massive drop in the number of visitors at both Ocean Park and Disneyland Hong Kong, which is perhaps even more affected because of its higher entrance fee.

A recent Filipino visitor to both amusement parks was amazed that she and her companion could get on any of the rides without having to queue, an experience that she never had in all the years that she had visited both places.

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She had the same experience at the Peak Tram, which most tourists prefer to take in going up to one of Hong Kong’s best known attractions. For the first time in so many years, the queue going in, which used to snake up to a block away, especially during the weekends, was nowhere to be seen.

It is the same story with Philippine airlines, which used to fly the seventh highest number of tourists into Hong Kong every year. Scenes from the widespread mayhem that have marred what previously were peaceful weekend protests have all but doused the desire of many Filipinos to come over for a quick respite.

Philippine Airlines, which used to fly four times daily from Hong Kong to Manila, has already cut out one flight, and is reportedly considering stopping services on one return journey. Cebu Pacific Air’s website shows it has maintained its four flights in and out of Hong Kong, but perhaps not for long.

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“It’s the same with all other airlines,” said an industry insider. “People have just stopped coming.” He says the 40% decline cited by government does not even give an accurate picture of the massive downturn in tourist arrivals as they do not include border crossings.

Things continue to look grim even with the approach of “Golden Week”, when Chinese people traditionally go traveling during the long National Day holiday, which starts Oct 1.

By this time, airlines and hotels would have been swamped with bookings from Chinese tourists many of whom prefer to do their shopping for luxury goods in Hong Kong. But none of this is happening this year because many Mainland tourists reportedly fear they could be targeted by Hong Kong protesters angry at what they perceive as China’s premature tightening of its grip on their freedoms.

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As a result, occupancy rates at hotels which last year was at a high 91% on average, have dipped considerably, prompting them to offer as much as 70% percent reduction in room charges.

The brunt of the slump is also being borne by hotel workers, 77% of whom have been asked to go on unpaid leave for at least three days, according to media reports. A survey by the Hotels, Food and Beverage Employees Association also showed 46% of the workers believe their salaries could be cut by as much as $3,000 per month.

Retailers are also feeling the brunt of the crisis, including those who cater mainly to migrant workers.

Filipino retailers in WorldWide Plaza 
are hard-hit by fallout from the protests 

They include Joy Tan, a storeowner in WorldWide Plaza, who has lamented on Facebook that the protests, which often peak during the weekends when domestic workers are having their days off, have resulted in her failing to make enough to cover rent.

But the worst is yet to come. With the prospect of wage cuts looming in the horizon, many foreign domestic workers and their supporters fear they could suffer the same fate. Back in 2003, in the aftermath of the SARS epidemic, the minimum salary of FDWs was cut by $400, or more than 10% of their monthly pay then. 

Now, with the new minimum wage for FDWs expected to be announced by the government by the end of the month, there is widespread fear that salaries could again be cut, or at best, frozen.

But the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, which is pressing for what it calls a living wage of $5,894 for FDWs, has been at pains trying to allay such concerns.

AMCB chair Dolores Balladares-Pelaez says, “The number of employment contracts being processed at the Consulate has remained steady despite the crisis, so it means the demand is still there, and that employers are willing to continue paying a just wage to their helpers.” 

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