Bars offer spending voucher to boost vaccinations

Customers will be able to redeem a HK$100 voucher at any one of around 100 pubs and clubs, the Hong Kong Bar and Club Association said on Thursday, as part of a bid to drum up business after they were forced to close for five months.

The government allowed the venues to reopen on Thursday, but required all staff and customers to have taken at least the first dose of the locally available Covid-19 vaccines.

The Hong Kong Bar and Club Association chairman, Chin Chun-wing, said the spending vouchers are aimed at encouraging their target customers, especially young people, to get vaccinated and visit pubs and clubs.

He said he didn’t have high expectations for business even though they are allowed to reopen in a limited capacity, as a majority of Hong Kong residents have yet to be inoculated.

Chin also complained that a new mobile app introduced by the government for bars and restaurants, to help them verify their customers’ vaccination records, is plagued with glitches.

He also complained that the app is currently only available on Android devices.