AusLeisure

With Hong Kong’s fitness clubs, gyms and studios again closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, and having been closed for more than 100 days during 2020, business owners are incurring ongoing financial losses and are fearful for their futures.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, groups representing 236 gyms - the Hong Kong Fitness and Alliance of Fitness and Wellness Limited - asked the Hong Kong Government to reopen their businesses as of 23rd December. However, with the fourth wave of Coronavirus showing no signs of subsiding in the administrative region, the Hong Kong Government’s social distancing measures have been extended until 6th January 2021.

This requires venues including fitness clubs, gyms, sports venues, beauty salons, cinemas, and massage parlours to remain closed to the public. 

Explaining the impact of having been closed for more than 100 days during the year, Crystal Au-Yeung, the owner of Kru Muay Thai in Central, advised that the gym received little warning to shut down for the fourth wave, and are still waiting on the Hong Kong Government’s second round of subsidy (worth HK$50,000) first promised in September.

Yeung, whose gym marked two-years of operations in December, said her business is barely a few months away from going bankrupt, noting “we’re very pessimistic” about the prospects of the gyms being allowed to reopen, explaining “we’re thinking this is going to last until 2021.”

More than 1,800 fitness centres are reportedly eligible for addition help from the the Hong Kong Government, to pay the salaries of about 4,450 part-time instructors until the end of January.

However, Tricia Yap, who runs Limitless Health in Central, said support is inadequate  as most owners haven’t even received the HK$50,000 promised, and won’t get it given they don’t meet the stringent small business requirements for the aid.

Yap said the relief neglects receptionists, who play a big part in monitoring everyone who visits studios, as well as health declaration forms and temperature checks.

She told the South China Morning Post “we’re asking for utilities bills too, as some landlords charge electricity and gas and water direct to the lessee so they don’t receive a bill from HK Electric.”

Yap added the interpretation of the rules, when the fourth wave started and gyms were allowed to reopen, shows there is still a lot of miscommunication between the government and the industry.

She stated “there have been a few arrests prior to lockdown where police interpreted rules different to the health department,” said Yap.

With January expected to bring new members looking to fulfil New Year’s resolutions to get fit and stay healthy, the Hong Kong Fitness and Alliance of Fitness and Wellness Limited has emphasised  that there has not been a directly linked COVID-19 case to the health and wellness industry.

Its roposal asks for HK$150,000 minimum for all locally owned gyms and fitness studios, which would be more than the first round of subsidies (HK$100,000) delivered last April.

Michael Melly, the founder of House of Fitness, a boutique high-intensity workout studio in Sheung Wan, said many within the industry were confused about the rules and restrictions that initially came out with the fourth wave and how to interpret them.

Melly said owners like himself invested in a lot of equipment, including dividers and sanitisers, looking to comply with the new restrictions that came out with the fourth wave, under the impression that if they followed them they could stay open.

Images: Crystal Au-Yeung at her gym in Hong Kong (middle, credit Crystal Au-Yeung) and Michael Melly working out in his gym when masks were not required (below, Michael Melly).

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