bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Kanis Leung

Bars will reopen across Hong Kong on Friday after a month-long coronavirus shutdown, as Lan Kwai Fong venues prepare to slash prices and the nightlife hub’s founder predicts takings as low as half normal levels.
More than 100 frontline workers have been tested for the virus as part of the Central party zone’s relaunch, which comes as the government eases social-distancing restrictions in response to the improving Covid-19 situation in the city.
Pubs and bars will only be allowed to operate half-full to a maximum of four people per table from Friday, after their emergence as the city’s biggest infection cluster led to a mandatory shutdown of the industry from April 3.
Punters, musicians and their families were among the 103 cases linked to the drinking scene, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of Hong Kong’s infected total, which stood at 1,044 on Thursday.


Amid excitement within the industry for the return of business, heavy discounts on cocktails and promotions such as free-flow drinking appeared online, along with messages on Lan Kwai Fong to “stay safe, play safe”.
Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group and the area’s dominant landlord, predicted that, with social distancing in place, revenues at bars would be at between 50 per cent and 70 per cent of typical levels over the short term, depending on the size of the venues.
“At the beginning, it will probably get many people wanted to come out because many people have been starved for some social entertainment,” Zeman told the Post.
Hong Kong bars and pubs shut as coronavirus tally rises by 43
“Many of the bars have been waiting to open up. So the streets actually should be a little bit livelier.”
Before the official shutdown order took effect, about 10 per cent of the 120 or so restaurants and bars in the nightlife hub had already suspended operations in late March, faced with potential customers staying home to guard against contagion.
To boost business, some bars are planning half-price offers on drinks and extensions to “happy hour”. One has even launched a flowers and rosé wine package for Mother’s Day on Sunday.

Anthea Cheung, director of the Lan Kwai Fong Association, said about three bars closed in April, losing their struggle to survive the public health crisis.
But most drinking spots would reopen in time for Friday’s happy hour, with some launching as early as 4pm.
Cheung said other than regular measures such as temperature checks and providing hand sanitiser to customers, the association helped arrange Covid-19 blood tests from April for some 100 interested workers.
“They do not only do it for once. They will keep doing it, for example, weekly or bi-weekly, to ensure they are healthy,” she said.
Lan Kwai Fong hit by coronavirus scare as business plunges
Max Traverse, owner of a bar in Lan Kwai Fong, said he had received many inquiries about reopening and by Thursday evening had secured reservations for 30 customers for the following day.
Traverse said he was offering unlimited drinks over two hours every Saturday night for HK$250 (US$32) while signature cocktails would cost HK$50, over 50 per cent cheaper than usual.
“I am not expecting crazy-crazy [business recovery], but at least recovering to a level that I will be able to pay the rent and the staff,” he said.

Ravi Beryar, operations director of the bar Rula Live, did not expect a large increase in business until all the restrictions had been lifted and the health crisis was under control, as he estimated revenue would be no more than 50 per cent of what they take in normal times.
“It’s not only about whether the government is putting restrictions on us. It’s also about when the public will feel safe again to come out again to the Lan Kwai Fong area,” he said.
Cat Hou Chui-shan, chairwoman of the Bartenders and Mixologists Union of Hong Kong, said employees in the industry were generally not too concerned about infection risks because the city had not recorded a locally transmitted case for 18 days.
Musician from Hong Kong’s Covid-19 bar cluster recounts horror
“Many workers say they have never been this happy when doing cleaning works to prepare for a reopening,” she said.
But some customers held misgivings about drinking in bars.


Raymond Yip, 27, from the IT industry, said: “In the past, when I went drinking, I would be more relaxed and might hug friends and put our arms on each others’ shoulders. But now, I won’t want that.”
Meanwhile, theme park Ocean Park, which has been closed since late January, was making preparations for reopening, although a date had not been revealed.
To capitalise on the relaxed social-distancing arrangements, shopping centres such as Times Square in Causeway Bay and Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui are giving out over HK$100 million worth of coupons to attract customers between May 11 and May 17, in a scheme designed to generate HK$1.8 billion of sales.

Help us understand what you are interested in so that we can improve SCMP and provide a better experience for you. We would like to invite you to take this five-minute survey on how you engage with SCMP and the news.



Coronavirus: Hong Kong bars to reopen after weeks of Covid-19 shutdown with Lan Kwai Fong venues lining up cheap deals to attract customers

Bars and pubs whose main business is serving alcoholic drinks have been closed since April 3 amid Covid-19 shutdowns. Photo: Nora Tam

Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group attends the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Racial Diversity and Inclusion Charter Ceremony cum panel discussions held at HSBC in Central. SCMP has also agreed to sign the Charter and will be joining the 29 March event as a signatory. 29MAR19 SCMP / Nora Tam

Two people chat while sitting next to an usually busy bar in Lan Kwai Fong, Central, after the city’s Chief Executive announced plans to temporarily ban the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants as a measure to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus. - Hong Kong will ban all non-residents from entering the city from midnight on March 24, 2020 in a bid to halt the coronavirus, its leader says, as she unveils plans to stop restaurants and bars serving alcohol. 23MAR20 SCMP / Robert Ng

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Coronavirus

Economic Impact

Greater China


Lan Kwai Fong founder Allan Zeman issues revenue warning, with social-distancing rules limiting capacity and some drinkers wary of heading out
Bar owners offer free-flow drinking, cut-price cocktails for Friday’s return to business, while staff have been offered Covid-19 testing



Lan Kwai Fong founder issues revenue warning, with social-distancing rules limiting capacity and drinkers wary of heading out. Bar owners offer free-flow drinking, cut-price cocktails for Friday’s return to business.


Coronavirus: Hong Kong bars to reopen after weeks of Covid-19 shutdown with Lan Kwai Fong venues lining up cheap deals to attract customers

Lan Kwai Fong founder Allan Zeman issues revenue warning, with social-distancing rules limiting capacity and some drinkers wary of heading out Bar owners offer free-flow drinking, cut-price cocktails for Friday’s return to business, while staff have been offered Covid-19 testing

Lan Kwai Fong founder Allan Zeman issues revenue warning, with social-distancing rules limiting capacity and some drinkers wary of heading out

Bar owners offer free-flow drinking, cut-price cocktails for Friday’s return to business, while staff have been offered Covid-19 testing