Dear Friends in Hong Kong & Overseas :
 
I hope you are keeping safe and taking good care of yourselves.  The world has been engulfed with the COVID-19 pandemic, not a single country in the whole world is spared, including Hong Kong.
 
Since January, Hong Kong has been facing an unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 epidemic.  The catering industry is one of the hardest hit, revenue has dropped almost 80%, and at the Airport, the revenue figures are in single digits over a year ago.
 
Here in Hong Kong, the food paradise, the catering industry not only provides customers with great food and service, it is also a key driver to our economy, with close to $113 billion receipts in 2019, employing over 200,000 persons, according to Government figures.  The catering industry is one of the indispensable pillars of our economy, it is imperative and urgent that we do all we can to uphold its existence and maintain its talent pool.
 
The SAR Government has launched a string of relief measures to provide the very much needed assistance to our industry in this adverse time of operation.
 
In August last year, when our society suffered from the social unrests, the Government had devised a package of support measures to alleviate the financial burden of the catering industry with :
1.      Reduce trade effluent surcharge
2.      Waiver of 75% of water and sewage charges for non-domestic households
3.      Waiver of food & liquor license fees for new issues & renewals for a year
4.      Reduced Govt land rental by 50% for most short term tenancies, and
5.      Rates concession to all non-domestic properties
 
At the latest epidemic crisis, the Government has also come to our rescue, which included 2 rounds of Anti-epidemic Relief Funds.
 
The 1st round has allocated $ 3.7 billion to eligible F&B premises which can receive either $ 80,000 or $ 200,000 support.
 
When the 1st round finishes tomorrow, the 2nd round of Relief Fund will start immediately in the coming week on 5th of May.  $ 9.5 billion funding is earmarked for the
 
catering industry which focuses on protecting employment and safeguarding jobs by helping employers with wages.  The idea is to keep their employees in the coming months so that when business resumes, the employers can grab the opportunities to recover and grow their business.
 
The Government had taken into account our proposal to have rolled out a Special 100% Loan Guarantee Scheme which is applicable to Small & Medium Enterprises in all sectors, with interest rate of prime rate minus 2.5% and all guarantee fees waived.  I am also thankful to the Financial Secretary on furthering my proposal to have extended the Scheme to include Public Listed Companies as well.  This relief measure aims to alleviate employers of their burden of paying wages and rents by SMEs which are strapped on cash, and thereby help minimize shutting down and layoffs. 
 
Apart from payroll, rent is the other major cost for businesses in Hong Kong.  Since last year, I have already been engaging landlords to discuss rent reduction to help ease the pressure of our industry.  It is encouraging to see some landlords have agreed to reduce as much as 70% of the rent in the next few months and I’m hoping more landlords will join them to show their support to the industry.  As the economic outlook for the next few months is not promising, it is actually a win-win situation by sustaining the businesses of the tenants, while landlords can avoid leaving their premises empty.
 
 
As early as January, before the outbreak of the epidemic, Hong Kong people have taken proactive measures of wearing face masks and stepped up personal hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus.  The catering industry had started voluntary preventive measures even before the introduction of the Government’s requirements. This demonstrated that our industry, and Hong Kong society as a whole, have taken this fight against the COVID-19 seriously.  Our industry has pledged to co-operate with the Government in enforcing the anti-epidemic measures which might become the new norm for some time.  And I call forth the catering industry to stay vigilant & take the extra precaution even if the restrictions are lifted. Ensure the most important measures of using masks and hand sanitizers at all times to maintain a hygienic & worry-free environment for your customers. 
 
The catering industry and myself deeply feel that our Government has taken our best interest at heart, and grateful that the many relief measures we proposed since the social unrests and during the epidemic crisis have been accepted and actualized.   We are going to protect our businesses and livelihoods with the same determination and commitment until the fight against the pandemic is over.
 
In the past two weeks, we have seen a steady decline of the number of cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong.  Although the Government has started to reconsider the social distancing measures, I believe that it should review the restrictions closely and frequently, and relax the measures in a more timely manner to allow the “bleeding” businesses to operate and re-open at the earliest timeframe possible.
 
There is a saying that “治大國與烹小鮮”, which can be translated as “running a great country is like cooking a delicate fish”.    Our catering industry knows that it is an art to cook a perfect fish, and time control is of the essence.  While it is critical to contain the epidemic, we also need to strike the right balance to keep the economy going and to bring our pay-cheques home.   The catering industry carries 200,000 jobs in Hong Kong, while the Anti-epidemic Fund can provide short term relief, we have to look further to sustain and rebuild the industry in the long run.
 
The COVID-19 has caused enormous impact in our social and economic lives.  When the global lockdown finally ends, realistically, we will face fierce and punishing competition in our recovery path.  It will be an uphill battle to bring back customers and their spending mood.
 
The fate and future of our catering industry are closely linked with other hospitality industries such as tourism, MICE, events, retail shopping etc.   Countries around the world are beginning to consider the timeline and steps to re-open their countries. We should start planning ahead to re-ignite these industries to bring back the vibrancy in our society and economy, to attract tourists and visitors to come back to our beautiful city once that happens.
 
 
We are also blessed with the One Country Two Systems framework, being one of the major cities in China’s Greater Bay Area development plan.  While we await the systematic re-opening of the border for the interflow of traffic and business, we should plan and resume the opportunities this will bring not only to our catering industry, our interlinked industries will also benefit greatly.
 
An energetic and thriving catering industry is one of the key indicators of the health and prosperity of our economy.  We should stay optimistic, prove our resilience in the worst of times.  The coronavirus has piled economic woes onto the damage done by months of social unrest, it is important that we return our lives to normal soon, focus back to our
 
 
economy, and rebuild our society as a whole.  It’s not just economics, mental health, domestic violence, and chronic health issues for which treatment is suspended are also serious collateral damages of the shutdown.
 
With perseverance and in unity, it will get better day by day.  I believe that Hong Kong will prevail in these challenges and come back stronger.  I look forward to the day that we can all dine together in our favorite restaurants here in Hong Kong.
 
Until then, stay safe, and stay healthy !