CE explains relaxation of measures

May 5, 2020

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:

So raising the number from four to eight for the catering business and also for the prohibition against group gatherings under Cap 599G is not an exact science, but this is a step in the right direction of relaxation. So maybe in another 14 days’ time we will raise the number of eight to 10, to 12, to 15 and so on. For example, in France, the limit now is not more than 10. So we feel that that is a prudent way of relaxing the control measures that we have put in place.

As far as bars and pubs, I have to confess that this is one of the difficult areas to decide, because bars and pubs come in different forms. As long as they have a liquor licence, and many of them, I would say almost all of them will also have a food licence. So you have standalone bars and you also have bars in restaurants, whether they are Chinese or western restaurants. Hitherto, the ban is whenever there is an area exclusively for serving alcoholic drinks, it has to be closed. So if it is a pure standalone bar, then it has to be closed, there's no business whatsoever. 

But if it is a bar area in a western restaurant, yes, the bar area will be closed, but wines will continue to be served on the premises where people have food and so on. So taking that into account and the public health situation, the low number of cases and so on, we have decided that perhaps to strike a pragmatic balance is to allow them to reopen for business but to put in far more stringent requirements, including the requirements that you have referred to - that is you can sit down at a table to drink but there should be no live music, no band performances and no dancing in the bar premises - and that would be another way to keep the social distance and prevent as much as possible physical interactions.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The relaxation of anti-epidemic measures is a step in the right direction, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today.

Mrs Lam made the statement at a press conference this afternoon.

She said the Government will relax the requirement limiting group gatherings in public places to a maximum of four people. Starting from Friday, up to eight people can gather in public places.

"So raising the number from four to eight for the catering business and also for the prohibition against group gatherings under Cap 599G is not an exact science, but this is a step in the right direction of relaxation.

"Maybe in another 14 days’ time we will raise the number of eight to 10, to 12, to 15 and so on."

Regarding bars and pubs, Mrs Lam said these venues will be able to reopen but the Government will put in place requirements to prevent physical interactions.

"We have decided that perhaps to strike a pragmatic balance is to allow them to reopen for business but to put in far more stringent requirements."

Such requirements include no live music, band performances or dancing in bar premises.

"That would be another way to keep the social distance and prevent as much as possible physical interactions."

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