Would ending Hong Kong liquor tax, delaying shisha ban and extending MTR hours help bars?

Hong Kong’s bar sector has urged authorities to scrap the liquor tax, postpone a ban on flavoured cigarettes and extend the operating hours of MTR train services to revitalise the industry amid a growing trend of residents travelling to mainland China to spend.

The Hong Kong Bar and Club Association made the call on Wednesday, with chairman Chin Chun-wing saying all operators in a new poll supported scrapping the liquor tax.

More than 90 per cent backed a postponement of the complete ban on flavoured cigarettes and shisha, while four-fifths sought an extension of MTR service hours.

The association polled 400 operators in the survey.

“The government has been vigorously promoting mega events in recent years and they bring about a certain amount of footfall to the bar industry,” Chin said.

“But residents travelling across the border to spend their money and the emigration of middle- to high-income individuals are putting the industry in a challenging position.”