Tom Bennell's olive oil distribution business took a heavy beating during m...
HONG KONG - Tom Bennell’s olive oil distribution business took a heavy beating during months of pro-democracy protests that emptied Hong Kong hotels and restaurants, his major customers. Now he fears a knockout blow as the city fights the coronavirus.
The coronavirus, which has killed more than 1,700 people across the border in mainland China and one of 60 patients in Hong Kong, has reduced tourist arrivals to a trickle and kept residents away from shops at a time when the city is mired in its first recession in a decade. Hong Kong retail sales have been in free-fall for a year as the economy contracted for three consecutive quarters, dropping 19.4% in December as protesters, angry with Beijing’s perceived tightening grip over the city, clashed with police in shopping malls.
Kwok Wang-hing, who works as a cook at a dim sum restaurant and chairs the Eating Establishment Employees’ General Union, said the restaurant business had dropped 30-50% during the protests, but the coronavirus had raised that to 70-80%. “We are very worried and not sure how long we can hold on without any business,” council executive director Alice Chan told Reuters.
Cosmetics chain Sa Sa International has closed some stores and said it will trim its Hong Kong workforce by up to 3% and cut salaries by 10-40% between March and May, aiming to cut costs by a third.Owen Kwok, head of the Retail Frontline Union, said 800 of its 3,000 members had been asked to take unpaid leave.
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