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Sino Group is giving out 10,000 beer and cocktail vouchers to encourage people to spend in its mall after 8pm.
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This comes after the deputy financial secretary, Michael Wong Wai-lun, contacted developers last Friday to suggest shopping malls should extend operating hours and host activities commencing from the Mid-Autumn Festival.
So Citywalk in Tsuen Wan managed by the Sino Group will host a Mid-Autumn beer market from September 29 to October 2, giving away free craft beer to customers who spend over HK$500 at a single shop in the mall.
A similar offer will be available at the Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and the Empire Centre from September 28 to October 8, when customers who spend over HK$300 at restaurants can receive a HK$50 drink voucher for a free beer or cocktail.
The group will also distribute free drink vouchers at the Kowloon high-speed rail station and bus stations to invite tourists to its Alfresco Lane near the two malls to have a meal.
Henderson Land Development will also distribute 10,000 mall coupons while hosting various activities at night.
New World Development too will extend the operating hours of its shopping malls with night-time activities.
Meanwhile, the president of the Institute of Dining Professionals, Ray Chui Man-wai, said the government should hand out consumption vouchers that can only be used after 8pm to provide incentives for citizens to visit malls amid plans to extend business hours.
Chui said Hongkongers have changed their lifestyles since the Covid pandemic and become accustomed to buying takeout food.
Many restaurants have also given up night business due to a manpower shortage and a reduction in customers, he added.
Chui said it would cost merchants HK$10,000 to HK$15,000 to open for an extra hour, which would include staff pay and electric bills.
"Extending operating hours with no purpose cannot bring customers to the malls," he said, adding that shops will remain closed eventually at night if no customers show up.
"The government could launch some night-time consumption vouchers that can only be used after 8pm," he said. "That will will bring customers to restaurants and stores at night, [so] merchants can extend their opening hours naturally."
Malls can also invite singers to perform at night or host creative markets, he said.
Chui also said night-time vouchers will not affect daytime restaurant business as it attracts a different group of customers. Youngsters are likely to consume at night while families and elderly customers would visit restaurants and shopping malls earlier, he said.
Sun Hung Kai Properties executive director Maureen Fung Sau-yim said hosting large-scale activities can help malls attract customers.
She also said the SAR should offer supportive measures for night markets, adding that Shanghai has subway trains overnight to support its night economy.
"We are facing difficulties in hiring front-line employees and wish the government could speed up handling imported labor applications," Fung added.
"The government can also learn from Macau's experience with cross-border labor, allowing imported workers to live in Shenzhen and work in Hong Kong."
The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority is studying the introduction of night performances and shows supported by catering services to extend the area's vitality.
The authority will soon submit a proposal to officials before implementing new measures.
wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com
