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HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) – Hong Kong has established a hotline for residents to report parties aboard private yachts and chartered party boats, as the financial center tightens social distancing rules to contain a wave of virus cases.
With nightclubs and karaoke lounges closing as a result of a new round of restrictions, some people were organizing meetings to break the rules at sea, Executive Director Carrie Lam said at a weekly press conference on Tuesday (Dec. 1 ) before a meeting of your Executive Advisory Council. .
Celebrating parties aboard chartered “junks” in Hong Kong’s iconic harbor and outlying islands is a favorite weekend pastime, as is gathering on private yachts anchored off tropical beaches.
“The newly created whistleblower hotline is there because we see that after the nightclubs and karaoke rooms are closed, there are several people organizing events at sea,” Lam said. “We want to target that gap.”
The local police force, which has already launched a hotline for possible violations of the city’s controversial national security law, has also posted on Facebook a call for residents to be alerted to parties at sea.
“While scheduled venues such as bars, restrooms and nightclubs have been closed in accordance with the law, police noted that several vessels had been hired for social gatherings,” police said.
“Even privately owned yachts are sometimes used for this purpose. This greatly increased the risk of disease transmission.”
While Hong Kong currently limits public gatherings to two people, the government has not limited the number of people who can meet privately.
A police representative declined to elaborate on the rules Tuesday about whether the measure would have any effect on private parties hosted by yacht owners, referring only to the earlier Facebook post.
Ms Lam’s comments come a day after announcing a new round of restrictions, including sending public officials to work from home, reducing restaurant goers to two per table, and closing karaoke bars and lounges. mahjong.
He said authorities planned to increase the fine to HK $ 2,000 (Singapore $ 345) for violating the ban on group gatherings because the current fine was not enough to deter.
The latest round of measures, including the suspension of a planned travel corridor with Singapore, has taken a toll on hopes for an economic recovery in the Asian financial center.
While Hong Kong has been more successful in containing the pandemic than many large cities, with just over 6,300 cases in total and 109 deaths since the outbreak began, cases are increasing again with more than 70 cases daily for the past seven. days.
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