Beating the gloom: enterprising Hongkongers find ways to boost income, running yoga classes or selling at bazaars and online
- Depressing jobs scene drives some to turn talents, hobbies into potential money-spinners
- Call for government to provide more community venues for small businesses to set up stalls
An estimated 240,700 people in Hong Kong were out of work as of June, as the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on the economy. The bleak jobs market has driven some to get creative and put their talents and hobbies to good use. In the last instalment of a five-part series, Kanis Leung, Kathleen Magramo and Denise Tsang meet some of the city’s pandemic entrepreneurs. Read parts one, two, three, and four.
After 10 years in the job, Lena Lo enjoyed her life as a flight attendant, taking off to different parts of the world, earning about HK$20,000 a month.
Then the coronavirus pandemic struck and her airline told her in January to stay home, paying her about HK$10,000 a month, half what she earned before.
“No one ever expected that a thriving airline industry would crash like that. I haven’t been on a flight for half a year now,” said Lo, who is in her 30s and has a degree in marketing.
While waiting for the airline to decide her fate, she started running yoga classes, earning about HK$20,000.
Lo took up yoga three years ago as a way to relieve stress, and went on to qualify as a licensed instructor, allowing her to conduct private and group classes.
