CE inspects social distance enhancement measures in restaurants
29.3.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited restaurants in a commercial building at Quarry Bay this afternoon (March 29) to inspect their implementation of various epidemic preventive measures in accordance with the requirements of the regulation which took effect from 6pm yesterday (March 28). Accompanied by Executive Council member, Mr Tommy Cheung, Mrs Lam inspected a Chinese restaurant and an eatery. She learned from the person-in-charge that various measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus had been implemented in accordance with the regulation and that self-initiated actions such as providing discounts for take-away food and arranging seats to enable customers to face the same direction had been taken as with other restaurants to support the fight against the disease. Mrs Lam learned that customers of the Chinese restaurant and the eatery are generally supportive of the Government's target to enhance social distancing among the public and are in agreement with various hygienic arrangements. She also expressed gratitude for the efforts of the restaurants' staff members amid the epidemic, adding that the Government will pay special attention to the pressure on the staff in formulating a new round of relief measures for the trade. Regarding the direction related to the catering business, issued in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirement and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), catering premises were required to implement six measures starting at 6pm yesterday. The measures include ensuring the number of customers must not exceed 50 per cent of the normal seating capacity of the premises; a distance of at least 1.5 metres between one table and another table is maintained or other partition arrangements are made; no more than four persons are seated together at a table; a person must wear a mask except when he/she is consuming food or drink on the premises; body temperature screening on persons entering the premises is conducted and hand sanitisers are provided for them. In addition, the second part of the regulation requires the closure of six categories of premises including amusement game centres, bathhouses, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment such as cinemas, and "party rooms" for hire for holding social gatherings. "Apart from the regulation on the catering business and various premises, the Government has also made a regulation to prohibit group gatherings of more than four people in public places effective from 0.00am this morning. The various new requirements will inevitably affect members of the public and related sectors, but in the face of the severe epidemic situation, it is necessary for the Government to adopt resolute and stringent measures. I announced days earlier that the Government will launch the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund to further support sectors affected by the epidemic, and have requested employers not to lay off their staff due to the anti-epidemic measures during this period," said Mrs Lam. "Now is a critical moment in our fight against the epidemic. I urge every member of the public to put up with the inconvenience in their daily lives, go out less often and maintain personal hygiene to win this battle against the disease for ourselves, and for Hong Kong." Ends/Sunday, March 29, 2020 Issued at HKT 22:30 NNNN