The coronavirus pandemic that has been raging fiercely across much of the globe since the beginning of the year has wreaked social, economic and personal havoc. Countries around the world are still reeling from the various lockdown and social distancing measures intended to keep the virus at bay. However, throughout this crisis, we have seen the best in humanity. We owe a debt of gratitude to our healthcare professionals, who have been diligently serving on the front lines in this fight to care for those affected.
Link’s mass-market-oriented retail centres account for the non- discretionary segment of Hong Kong’s retail market. Given our portfolio’s resiliency, impact on our tenants is relatively lower than those operating at other locations in the territory during this crisis, though some trades have been affected by the pandemic and related social distancing measures. We have acted swiftly to shore up retailers in need, particularly small businesses, by expanding our support scheme for tenants to $300 million. We have also elevated hygiene measures to provide peace of mind to customers at our malls and fresh markets, in addition to stepping up promotional efforts to boost tenants’ sales.
As we live through the pandemic, the community’s ability to adapt and evolve in face of the virus headwinds is displayed in ways large and small. This issue of Channel 823 offers a glimpse into how retailers and shoppers are coping in this challenging time. Over the years, Link has focused on building an agile, close-knit team that embraces cloud-based technologies. These efforts have enabled us to increase our readiness for contingencies, which has allowed us to quickly adapt our office operations and support our staff to work from home as needed during the current crisis.
Since the virus will not be eradicated soon, learning to live with it and protect ourselves by observing hygiene habits will remain the new normalcy for the foreseeable future. This public health emergency presents an opportunity for humanity to reflect on our vulnerabilities to emerging viral threats. Let us hope that by harnessing our collective wisdom, we will emerge from this health crisis stronger and more prepared, so we are better able to keep our interconnected, globalised world safe and moving forward.
George Hongchoy
Chief Executive Officer
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