HK Decked Out but Not Enticing Visitors

All decked out by no people coming through in Hong Kong

Friends are reporting a lot of people on the streets of Hong Kong, but in terms of data, the Christmas season has been really quiet, with business slowing down significantly compared to last year when Covid-19 restrictions were still in place.

This Christmas more than 1.32 million outbound trips were recorded over the past three days, almost triple the number of visitor arrivals. Of the visitors who entered Hong Kong, 77 percent were from the mainland.

HK venues not big enough for Swift and Swifties

Anthea Cheung So-may, director of the Lan Kwai Fong Association, called for the government to hold more large-scale concerts and invite global star singers and bands to perform to attract more overseas tourists.

However, the national security law implemented in 2020 has made the city less desirable a place for artists to perform in, and also for international stars like Taylor Swift, they are looking for cities with venues large enough to hold their fans, which Hong Kong does not have at all. 

Meanwhile retail sector legislator Peter Shiu Ka-fai said the industry was affected by Hongkongers flying elsewhere for Christmas, while the holiday was not celebrated by mainlanders, and so not many crossed the border to shop.

"... overall, both the world economy and the Hong Kong economy are average... The spending power of mainland tourists was not as strong as before 2018," said Shiu.

Decorated malls not enough to entice shoppers

He called for the government to create more activities, events and offers to entice shoppers, both locals and visitors to spend in the city. Shiu asked for service to improve, particularly having a more friendly attitude towards customers.

This is tough when you feel like the situation is bleak... that said Hongkongers have that "Lion Rock spirit" and must persevere though this tough patch if they want the city to survive long term.

Would You Like a Raid with Your Dinner?

Imagine having your dinner interrupted by screaming officers

On the Instagram account of Hong Kong restaurant group Black Sheep Restaurants the latest post is this message:

"We had a bit of an intense night at Carbone yesterday, we think we were in compliance with the current regs and we are checking with our lawyers."

One of its restaurants is Carbone, a New York-style steakhouse above Lan Kwai Fong in Central that pays homage to the mid-20th century. Suited waiters may entertain guests with funny comments as they dine on American-sized portions of food, mostly meats, pastas and sides, while desserts are presented on a trolley.

Carbone is above Lan Kwai Fong in Central

Last night in the middle of dinner service, inspectors from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and police officers suddenly appeared in the restaurant and apparently screamed at guests to stay where they were and shut up. No one was allowed to talk or even go to the washroom for 45 minutes. Nor were they allowed to touch their phones.

Apparently the staff were each fined HK$5,000 (US$637) for contravening the latest Covid-19 regulations of not inspecting guests' rapid antigen tests.

However, the restaurant did not violate any rules -- it is a restaurant and not a bar or nightclub, which now require each patron to present a negative RAT result before entering.

So why did the FEHD and police raid this place? Did they not know it was a restaurant and not a bar?

Did FEHD do their homework on Carbone first?

Someone either did not do their homework about Carbone, or were using it as an example to other places.

While Black Sheep Restaurants are checking with their lawyers, there isn't much they can do -- the FEHD can pretty much flaunt its power without much oversight or accountability. 

It's intriguing none of the guests were fined, but the staff were, and it seems Carbone was the only restaurant targeted last night.

The incident must be sending chills to every restaurateur in Hong Kong -- which guest wants to endure an experience like that when they're already paying big bucks for a good dinner?

Is this raiding restaurants and screaming at guests going to be the norm now? If so it will definitely turn off people from wanting to dine out again. 

A police raid at another restaurant recently 

It also begs the question if guides like Michelin and Asia's 50 Best Restaurants feel confident enough to continue to promote Hong Kong restaurants when diners can be subject to an outrageous interruption to their meal out of no fault of the dining establishment?

If it is the new normal, surely more people are going to be fed up by this and want to leave Hong Kong...

The government seems intent on killing its own city. And it's doing a really good job of it.

New Hong Kong Souvenir

Have your bucket list decided for you

With so many people leaving Hong Kong either because of the national security law or the ongoing quarantine requirements, one company has come up with a creative keepsake for people to complete before their departure.

The Lion Rock Press has a "Scratch-off Hong Kong Bucket List" for HJK$250 (US$32.86), it features 100 places or activities to do that are covered up, and once it is completed, then you can literally scratch it off your list. To be honest though, they are geared towards the expatriate crowd.

Scratch off the ones you have completed

Things to do on the list of 100 include: afternoon tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong, finding out your fortune stick at Man Mo Temple, watch the sunset from High West on Victoria Peak, spend a day at Disneyland, and go paddle boarding.

There's even suggestion of doing jelly shots in Lan Kwai Fong, and watching Cantonese opera. Hmm we'll pass...

While it's enterprising for this company to come up with this bucket list, one can't help but think how sad it is that it is thinking of ways of capturing the departing market that is fast shrinking...

It would also be sad if you bought this list and only did a few items before you left Hong Kong!