Restaurant owners latest to demand border closure - RTHK

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2020-01-31 HKT 13:22

• Restaurant owners and catering sector representatives say closing the border is essential for making people feel safe to go out to eat and drink. Photo: RTHK

Representatives of the catering sector on Friday added their voices to growing calls for Hong Kong to shut its border with the mainland over the Wuhan virus outbreak, saying people are becoming too scared to go out to eat.

Catering sector leaders and restaurant owners complain that business conditions are now even poorer than they were during the worst periods of the city's ongoing social unrest.

They cited increases in operational costs, and said many restaurants have seen a drop in business by at least 50 percent since the Lunar New Year holiday, compared to the same period last year.

There were also warnings that many outlets could soon have to close if customers don't return.

Gordon Lam, the convenor of a restaurant federation, said closing the border is essential to restoring people's confidence in going out to eat, as well as protecting people's health.

"I don't see any affect on our food supply. Also, I think it's not only for our industry. The government did not help any Hong Kong people in this situation. Our industry is not our main concern. Our main concern is Hong Kong people's health," Lam said.

The government closed six of Hong Kong's border checkpoints from midnight on Thursday, as well as the high-speed rail and Guangzhou train service. But eight other crossings remain open, including the two that are linked to the MTR's East Rail Line.

Medical workers have been particularly vocal in demanding all borders be closed, with some threatening strike action if this doesn't happen.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that such a move would be "unwarranted".