Hong Kong’s retail sector is struggling but people will have to adapt: John Lee

Hong Kong’s leader has conceded that the city has a problem with its sluggish retail scene amid a trend of locals spending their holidays across the border, but warned against using it as the sole yardstick in assessing the economy.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also called on businesses to “work harder” in light of the market changes and to reform to retain if not grow their slice of the cake.

Hong Kong’s retail sales dropped for a 14th consecutive month in April, falling by 2.3 per cent, year on year, to HK$28.9 billion (US$3.7 billion). For the first four months, retail sales were down by 5.6 per cent over the same period last year, as witnessed in a string of chain closures.

“We do have a problem with retail, and that is to do with the changing of the market,” Lee told the Post in an exclusive interview, referring to the trend of Hongkongers spending their weekends and holidays in neighbouring mainland Chinese cities.

“It is a negative change of market phenomena. People will have to adapt to it, and we have to refocus on what we should do.”

He also argued that while shops had closed during the transitional period, new stores were also opening.