Father's Day blues amid Covid rebound and weak economy

Restaurateurs are pessimistic about business on Father's Day amid a rebound in Covid case numbers.

Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said only 40 percent of seats in eateries have been reserved and he expects no more than HK$280 million in revenue on Sunday.

Wong told The Standard the main reason for his pessimistic prediction was the downbeat spending mood amid a weak economy.

People have all but used up the HK$5,000 in consumption vouchers that were issued in April, he added, and the second HK$5,000 voucher installment will not arrive until August 7.

Wong said the pandemic situation in Hong Kong remains volatile, with social distancing measures remaining in place for eateries.

"It's really a huge difference compared with last year," he said.

"The whole atmosphere was different with social distancing measures already relaxed last year during Father's Day, so people spent.

"But people are no longer in a spending mood, so this year will not be as crowded and lively as last year. Many people will just opt to have dinner at home."

If Wong is correct in saying the restaurant sector will record at most HK$280 million on Father's Day, that would be down 30 percent from HK$400 million last year.

Yet the retail sector is bullish about consumer sentiment, with Sun Hung Kai Properties - which owns 15 malls across Hong Kong - in an upbeat mood prompted by the thought of another disbursement of consumption vouchers.

Executive director Maureen Fung Sau-yim said people are more willing to spend after officials announced on Monday that the vouchers will be given out on August 7.

"Although revenue on Father's Day is usually around 10 to 20 percent less than the figures on Mother's Day," Fung said, "we are expecting at least a 15 percent increase in customer flow and business revenue in our malls this weekend."

Sun Hung Kai has also rolled out lucky draws to attract consumers to spend in its malls, and Fung hopes the activities can stimulate consumption. She sees local restaurants and digital electronic shops benefiting the most.

One potential spender is Tommy, a 23-year-old university student, who said he has saved part-time job earnings to buy his father a new smartphone.

"My father has been using his current phone for four years and it's starting to break down from time to time," he said. "But my father does not want to change it as he finds new phones expensive. So I'm buying him a new one for Father's Day."

Another father said all he wants on his special day is a kiss from his three-year-old daughter. And when she is older "I hope she just cooks dinner for me."

Anyone celebrating Father's Day outdoors should carry an umbrella as the observatory expects showers and isolated squally thunderstorms.

That outlook comes with a trough of low pressure influencing Guangdong, though forecasters expect weather will improve in the middle of next week.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com