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Pernod Ricard Hong Kong execs ordered to temporarily vacate the city

15 February 2022 By Alice Liang

As the Omicron variant prevails in Hong Kong and the government implements its toughest social distancing measures yet, Pernod Ricard has asked senior executive staff members from its Hong Kong office to temporarily relocate outside the city.

Beverage giant Pernod Ricard has asked senior executives from its Hong Kong office to temporarily relocate to other Asian cities as the Hong Kong government continues to follow Beijing’s ‘dynamic zero-Covid’ policy.

In the midst of the fifth wave of pandemic, Hong Kong has reintroduced tougher social distancing regulations, including the forced closure of bars and clubs, a ban on dine-in service between 6pm-4.59am the next day, and a flight ban from nine countries including Australia, Canada, France, the UK and the US. There is also a compulsory 14-day hotel quarantine upon arrival in Hong Kong from overseas countries.

As reported in the Financial Times, Pernod Ricard has asked its senior staff in Hong Kong to work in other Asian cities, for example Dubai, in order to continue serving the Asian markets while also being able to travel to the company’s Paris headquarters.

According to the news report, since late last year, the senior managers have been asked to relocate temporarily as the flight ban and social distancing measures practiced in the city after Omicron cases spiked in December have sent Hong Kong into a virtual lockdown.

Last week, luxury hotel group Mandarin Oriental also announced its intention to move top executives to work in areas outside of Hong Kong due to the restrictions.

This week, Hong Kong reported 1,619 confirmed Covid cases and a further 5,400 preliminary cases. To date, a total of 219 deaths from Coronavirus have been reported during the pandemic.