Hong Kong businesses shut shop as city struggles to revive post pandemic
香港商家閉店，城市為復甦後疫情而奮鬥
HONG KONG, April 30 (Reuters) - When Jacky Yu, 48, opened his Japanese gift shop in Hong Kong more than a decade ago, the tourist and shopping district of Mong Kok was a bustling hub packed with stalls, street food and tourists.
四月三十日，香港（Reuters）- 余先生，年四十有八，十餘年前於香港開設其日本禮品店時，旅遊購物區旺角熙熙攘攘，攤販林立，街頭小吃香氣撲鼻，遊客如織。
四月三十日，香港（Reuters）- 余先生，年四十有八，十餘年前於香港開設其日本禮品店時，旅遊購物區旺角熙熙攘攘，攤販林立，街頭小吃香氣撲鼻，遊客如織。
Fast-forward 12 years and parts of the area are struggling to stay afloat, a combination of customers emigrating, locals heading across the border to shop in China or travelling to Japan to benefit from a weak yen - and a dearth of tourists.
迨十有二年，境內之部分地域艱難維持，客戶移居他方，當地人遠赴中國購物或赴日本以利用薄鈍之日元，且遊客稀少。
迨十有二年，境內之部分地域艱難維持，客戶移居他方，當地人遠赴中國購物或赴日本以利用薄鈍之日元，且遊客稀少。
Yu says he's had to make the "heartbreaking" decision to close his store and move it online.
余言，已不得不作「心碎」之決定，結束其店鋪並轉為網店。
余言，已不得不作「心碎」之決定，結束其店鋪並轉為網店。
"I almost want to cry when I talk about it," said Yu, packing his unsold stationery and toys into storage boxes.
「論及此事，幾欲淚下。」余言，將其未售之文具與玩具裝入收納箱中。
「論及此事，幾欲淚下。」余言，將其未售之文具與玩具裝入收納箱中。
"There are very few tourists on the streets, even the mainland Chinese are very few."
街上遊人稀少，即便是中國大陸遊客亦寥寥可數。
街上遊人稀少，即便是中國大陸遊客亦寥寥可數。
Hong Kong is struggling to recover since the COVID pandemic, which saw many expatiates leave after a three year shutdown, and tourist numbers dwindle to a fraction of pre-pandemic levels. High rents and a labour shortage are now adding to the pain.
自疫情爆發以來，香港一直在努力恢復，許多外籍人士在停業三年後離開，遊客數量也減少到疫情前的一小部分。高昂的租金和勞動力短缺現在更是雪上加霜。
自疫情爆發以來，香港一直在努力恢復，許多外籍人士在停業三年後離開，遊客數量也減少到疫情前的一小部分。高昂的租金和勞動力短缺現在更是雪上加霜。
Businesses describe shopping malls as "dead", with low foot traffic and shops covered with "for lease" or "coming up soon" signs.
商家形容購物中心為「冷清」，人流稀少，商店貼滿了「待租」或「即將開業」的標誌。
商家形容購物中心為「冷清」，人流稀少，商店貼滿了「待租」或「即將開業」的標誌。
Edmund Wong, an accountancy sector lawmaker, told the city's legislature last Friday that more than 20,000 companies had deregistered in the first quarter of 2024, up more than 70% from the same period last year.
汪懋德，一位會計業界議員，上周五告知城中之立法機構，謂二千零二十四年首季已有逾兩萬家公司註銷登記，較去年同期增加逾七成。
汪懋德，一位會計業界議員，上周五告知城中之立法機構，謂二千零二十四年首季已有逾兩萬家公司註銷登記，較去年同期增加逾七成。
Simon Wong, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, told public broadcaster RTHK that he estimated around 200-300 restaurants had closed over the past month, a trend he expects to continue.
黃燊鋒，香港餐飲業聯會主席，告知公共廣播機構 RTHK，估計過去一個月已有約二至三百間餐廳結業，此種趨勢其預料將持續。
黃燊鋒，香港餐飲業聯會主席，告知公共廣播機構 RTHK，估計過去一個月已有約二至三百間餐廳結業，此種趨勢其預料將持續。
On Tuesday, Hong Kong leader John Lee played down concerns about businesses closing.
香港領袖李家超周二淡化有關企業結業之憂慮。
香港領袖李家超周二淡化有關企業結業之憂慮。
"The world is always changing, and different industries will need to adapt, so there will be operators who are not so successful but new-comers are getting into the market."
天下之事，常有變遷，諸業須致變通，是以或有經營者不得意者，而新進者輒入市場也。
天下之事，常有變遷，諸業須致變通，是以或有經營者不得意者，而新進者輒入市場也。
[1/5]People walk past a closed-down retail shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, China April 29, 2024. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Purchase Licensing Rights
[1/5]人民行走於香港尖沙咀一家已歇業之零售店前，時值 2024 年 4 月 29 日。路透社/蕭偉倫 購買授權權利
[1/5]人民行走於香港尖沙咀一家已歇業之零售店前，時值 2024 年 4 月 29 日。路透社/蕭偉倫 購買授權權利
Even with the Golden Week holiday starting on Wednesday, a traditionally busy time for shopping and entertainment, many businesses are not optimistic.
索性金周假期自星期三起，乃購物與娛樂之繁忙時節，然多商家不甚樂觀。
索性金周假期自星期三起，乃購物與娛樂之繁忙時節，然多商家不甚樂觀。
"I don’t think the Golden Week will help much," said Wendy, 54, who works at a noodle shop in Mong Kok's Ladies Market.
"吾不意黃金周能有多大幫助," 聞人五十有四曰, 彼在旺角女人街之麵店作事。
"吾不意黃金周能有多大幫助," 聞人五十有四曰, 彼在旺角女人街之麵店作事。
"There were many tourists on this street ... but they're gone now."
是街上本多遊人...今皆已去矣。
是街上本多遊人...今皆已去矣。
Hong Kong residents are also deserting local shops and increasingly travelling across the border to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen for food and entertainment, where they say prices and service are better.
港人亦棄本土店鋪，漸行越境往南方華城深圳，以求飲食娛樂，謂彼處價廉物美。
港人亦棄本土店鋪，漸行越境往南方華城深圳，以求飲食娛樂，謂彼處價廉物美。
"Hong Kong people are heading north to consume, which has become a clear trend. On weekends, many Hong Kong people go to Shenzhen for consumption," said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura based in Hong Kong.
"港人北上消費，已成明顯趨勢。週末時，不少港人前往深圳消費。"，諾瑪亞洲有限公司香港分公司首席中國經濟學家陸挺表示。
"港人北上消費，已成明顯趨勢。週末時，不少港人前往深圳消費。"，諾瑪亞洲有限公司香港分公司首席中國經濟學家陸挺表示。
"The reason is that in the past five years, prices in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and even Changsha have hardly changed much. But in Hong Kong ... We have found that the price difference has widened, which has encouraged Hong Kong people to go north for consumption."
原因在於過去五年，深圳、廣州甚至長沙的物價幾乎沒有太大變化。但在香港……我們發現價差擴大，這促使港人北上消費。
原因在於過去五年，深圳、廣州甚至長沙的物價幾乎沒有太大變化。但在香港……我們發現價差擴大，這促使港人北上消費。
After Hong Kong reopened its border post-pandemic with China last year, the Tourism Board recorded a 38.9% drop in mainland visitors in 2023, compared with 2019 before the pandemic.
香港去年與中國在疫情後重新開放邊境後，旅遊局記錄到 2023 年大陸遊客比 2019 年疫情前下降了 38.9%。
香港去年與中國在疫情後重新開放邊境後，旅遊局記錄到 2023 年大陸遊客比 2019 年疫情前下降了 38.9%。
Spending by same-day mainland tourists plunged 36.4% in 2023, dropping from an average of HK$2,200 per person in 2019 to HK$1,400 after the border reopened last year.
自 2023 年起，同日大陸遊客之花費骤降 36.4%，自 2019 年之人均花費港幣 2,200 元，至去年邊境重啟後降至港幣 1,400 元。
自 2023 年起，同日大陸遊客之花費骤降 36.4%，自 2019 年之人均花費港幣 2,200 元，至去年邊境重啟後降至港幣 1,400 元。
In the Hong Kong border town of Sheung Shui, where residents once used to complain about mainland Chinese overcrowding the town and pushing up rents as they flocked to buy everything from cosmetics and medicine to daily necessities, business is quiet.
於香港邊境之上水鎮，本地居民素所怨者大陸客塞城擠租，爭購化粧品、藥物及日用品，而今商家門庭冷清。
於香港邊境之上水鎮，本地居民素所怨者大陸客塞城擠租，爭購化粧品、藥物及日用品，而今商家門庭冷清。
Li, 30, a cosmetic shop keeper from Sheung Shui, said local consumers now tended to shop across the border in Shenzhen and the "the off-season" had now come earlier.
李氏，年三十，是上水之一化妝品店主，言謂當地之顧客今日多趨深圳界內購物，「淡季」之來臨亦早矣。
李氏，年三十，是上水之一化妝品店主，言謂當地之顧客今日多趨深圳界內購物，「淡季」之來臨亦早矣。
Lee, 35, a hamburger shopkeeper in Mong Kok district, said business had worsened since the border reopened.
李氏，年三十有五，蒙古旺區一家漢堡店店主，言其生意自邊境開放後日漸式微。
李氏，年三十有五，蒙古旺區一家漢堡店店主，言其生意自邊境開放後日漸式微。
"There is no one after eight o'clock, and it’s even scarier during the holidays. There are no tourists. Just like the past Easter holidays, we could sit and sleep here for three hours."
八时之後無人，假日時更為可怖。無遊客。宛如往昔復活節假期，我們可坐臥於此三時。
八时之後無人，假日時更為可怖。無遊客。宛如往昔復活節假期，我們可坐臥於此三時。
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Reporting by Jessie Pang, Joyce Zhou and Edward Cho, additional reporting by Kevin Yao in Beijing; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Michael Perry
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