Editorial | Brighter days for Hong Kong will need more than revitalised nightlife
- ‘Night Vibes’ campaign, which promises bazaars, late openings and much more, will lighten the public mood but the city economy calls for a sustainable approach
After much hype and anticipation, Hong Kong has formally launched a much-touted campaign to revitalise its nightlife during a post-Covid slump. While the events and attractions on offer are no silver bullet to the ailing economy, they give locals and visitors something to look forward to as the city struggles to overcome the fallout from the prolonged pandemic.
As a result, the government must aim higher and longer, with more sustainable measures to be rolled out to help put the city back on track.
Among the highlights are waterfront bazaars, discounts at shopping centres and cinemas, concessions on public transport, evening openings and activities at theme parks and museums. There will also be fireworks and other traditional festivities during the Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays.
The attractions, officials say, will continue to the new year and beyond.
Unveiling a package of “exciting” activities under the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the government had brought sectors together to create dynamic evenings and provide more choice of nighttime entertainment, enabling the public to come together and relax. But Chan also sensibly shunned calls for a new round of consumption vouchers for those going out, saying the financial burden arising from such a move would be substantial.
