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HONG KONG: Almost 15 years ago, Grace Ma decided to name her bar Club 71, in commemoration of a July 1, 2003 rally where hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers protested a proposed national security law for the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
“I took the name of Club 71, because in a way it is more hopeful, with half a million people from Hong Kong holding a demonstration, a rally, to defend themselves, not to ignore what is happening in Hong Kong,” Ma said.
For years, the famous bar has served as a watering hole for activists and intellectuals in the city, who could freely participate in discussions over a beer or two.
The COVID-19 pandemic then struck, and in a blow to the city’s freedoms, the central government in Beijing in June imposed comprehensive national security legislation targeting political expression in response to mass protests against the government on last year. For Mom, the problems meant it was time to close the business for good.
In this Oct.9, 2020 photo, a bartender serves beer at Club 71 in Hong Kong. (Photo: AP / Kin Cheung)
Months of government-required bar closures as part of coronavirus restrictions had pushed Club 71’s finances to redder numbers, and operating the bar no longer made financial sense, he said. The bar will close at the end of October.
“We have closed for three months, out of the last six months,” said Ma, who is 60 years old. “For our business, it is impossible.”
Social distancing restrictions have also cut the capacity of the city’s bars and restaurants in half, making it difficult for them to make a profit.
“Restaurants can have four at a table … but bars only two per table,” he said, noting that bars have been subject to much stricter restrictions, compared to restaurants.
In the last days of the bar, patrons have appeared in droves, gathering outside in the park and occasionally in and out while ordering pints of beer. The colorful interior walls are covered with posters advertising art exhibitions and performances, as well as pro-democracy artwork.
“This is a place in Hong Kong where people can stop by and exchange ideas, as long as everyone respects each other, they can say whatever they want,” Ma said.
Clients sit at Club 71 in Hong Kong. (Photo: AP / Kin Cheung)
The news of the bar’s imminent closure was disappointing to some of its regulars, who appreciated the unique atmosphere and mix of people.
“There are very few such bars in Hong Kong. We call it the quiet bar, which allows people to chat with each other, ”said Keung Fung, 41, another loyal customer and former representative of the Hong Kong student union.
“It’s very unfortunate (that the bar is closing),” he said. “I’ll need to find another bar with a similar atmosphere.”
Some of Club 71’s clients also include former legislator and activist Leung Kwok-hung, known as “Long Hair” in Hong Kong. Leung had been a regular at Club 71’s predecessor, Club 64.
Ma had also run Club 64, before a breakneck rental forced her to move to her current location in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan neighborhood. That’s when he changed the name of the bar to Club 71.
In the last days of the bar, customers have come forward with force. (Photo: AP)
“It’s a hub for everyone to connect and communicate with each other, sometimes they sit down and discuss what to do. So you can say it is a meeting point, ”said Leung, who had visited the bar for a beer.
Other famous attendees over the years included Hong Kong singer Denise Ho, known for her pro-democracy stance, as well as acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Doyle.
Although Ma is saddened to have to close the 71 Club, in some ways it is also a relief, he said.
“Financially, I really couldn’t hold out,” he said. “It’s time to move on, I want to do something else.”
