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| New Year's Eve is cancelled in Lan Kwai Fong tonight |
This year's New Year's Eve will be muted with social distancing measures preventing people from marking the end of 2020 in restaurants and bars because of the coronavirus pandemic. Already after lunch streets around Lan Kwai Fong were blocked off by police and barricades about to be put in place.
But if no more than two people can gather what is the point of going there when everything there is closed and the possibility of being fined for not social distancing?
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| Lai on his way to the Court of Final Appeal |
However, that case won't be heard until February 1 to decide if Justice Alex Lee Wan-tang erred in granting bail to Lai on December 23.
Until February 1, the media tycoon will be in jail... his reprieve was a very short seven days.
As for 2021, there will be more of the same. Talking to people in the last few days we all expect social distancing measures to continue well into January in the hopes the pandemic will be under control by Chinese New Year, but for sure the protests have been forced underground for now.
The wave of emigration from Hong Kong has already begun, with people starting new lives elsewhere, lost as to what to do and sad for their hometown. More will join their ranks in the coming months.
Economically it will continue to be tough in Hong Kong, though the fact that businesses with restaurant licenses can operate is much better off than those in New York, Los Angeles, London and Paris. Retail has been hit the hardest, with people either not in the mood or lacking the funds to shop unless it's for necessities.
Looks like a sombre year ahead, but with vaccines coming there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
Wishing everyone a better and healthier 2021.
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