Retailers and other businesses want to salvage whatever sales that can be achieved from seasonal CNY stocks.
In a joint statement, the groups called for standard operating procedures that enabled all businesses, especially those selling apparel, accessories and shoes, to reopen and for eateries to receive dine-in customers. “We have earnestly expressed the urgency of this matter due to the short time left to conduct Chinese New Year festive sales so that our retailers and other businesses can try to salvage whatever sales they can from the seasonal stocks and to mitigate expected losses,” said the statement.
The government has received widespread criticism for its SOPs for the Chinese New Year celebrations next week, with politicians and other individuals claiming they are culturally tone-deaf and calling for the rules to be rectified.