'9-Day City Lockdown' Fear Empties Stalls... Hong Kong Faces Panic Buying Frenzy

Citizens Panic Over Possible City Lockdown
Sweeping Up Everything from Frozen Food to Cold Medicine

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] In Hong Kong, where the possibility of a 'city lockdown' has been raised ahead of mandatory COVID-19 testing for all citizens, panic buying is rampant. Although the government publicly urged restraint, assuring that "food supplies and other essentials are sufficient," the atmosphere remains tense.

On the 1st, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, "As a potential city lockdown looms, panic buying continues in supermarkets and pharmacies."

SCMP stated, "Hong Kong residents are hoarding everything from frozen meat, bread, and snacks to medicine, baby food, and napkins at supermarkets and markets," adding that this is due to concerns over a possible city lockdown for mandatory COVID-19 testing.

The panic buying frenzy in Hong Kong began after Sophia Chan, Hong Kong's Secretary for Health, said in a radio interview on the 28th of last month, "We are still discussing that plan (city lockdown). We are not ruling out such a possibility."

Following this, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, commented that "no decision has been made" regarding the possibility of a city lockdown. Meanwhile, a grain trading company announced that there is enough rice to supply the entire population for 15 days, but these reassurances have been insufficient to calm public anxiety.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

As panic buying became so severe that shelves in some supermarkets were emptied, some stores decided to shorten their business hours. ParknShop, Hong Kong's largest retail chain, announced on the 1st that it would move up the closing times of some stores by 5 to 6 hours, citing "the safety of employees and customers." Another major retailer, Wellcome, advanced the closing time to 5 p.m. at 7 of its 320 locations.

At the Tai Po branch of Mannings, a drugstore chain operating 250 stores while closing 53 locations, items such as Panadol, calcium supplements, and sanitary pads were sold out. Watsons stores also ran out of Panadol, Vaseline, and cough medicine.

Dozens of people have been seen lining up at bank ATMs to withdraw cash. Banks in Hong Kong, including Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, China CITIC Bank, Dah Sing Bank, and ICBC, have temporarily closed some branches as a precaution.

The administration emphasized that food supplies are being transported from mainland China via land and sea. According to official announcements, about 2,100 tons of vegetables were supplied from the mainland to Hong Kong, which is 90% of the average daily supply from the previous year. On the 28th of last month, refrigerated meat was supplied at 140% of Hong Kong's average daily supply, exceeding usual amounts. Anthony Lam, CEO of Golden Resources, a rice trading company, also mentioned, "By law, we are required to stockpile enough rice for at least 15 days of consumption."

Meanwhile, on the 1st, Hong Kong authorities reported 32,597 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 238,377. The related death toll reached 172, with a total of 1,024 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.