You couldn’t make it up! Although it is obvious they did…
HKFP reports
The Democratic Party said it would continue to search for a venue to host its spring dinner despite having three restaurants cancel existing reservations.
The Democratic Party – the largest remaining opposition party in the city – has been forced to postpone its spring dinner after three restaurants pulled out of hosting the party and its supporters. One backed out just two hours before the event on Tuesday evening, citing “urgent gas meter maintenance.”
Lo Kin-hei, chairman of the Democratic Party, said he was sad about the restaurant’s decision. “I didn’t expect that simply hosting a dinner could lead to so many ‘coincidences’ and obstacles,” he said, speaking to reporters at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon during which the Democratic Party provided feedback on the government’s latest budget proposals.
The party originally planned to hold a banquet for its 200 members and supporters on Tuesday. According to the party, the first hotel restaurant cancelled its reservation last month, while another hotel pulled out from hosting two days before the event, also saying it needed to conduct “urgent repairs.”
“Why is it so difficult for a political party to hold an internal gathering in Hong Kong? We are entitled to exercise our freedom of assembly. The current climate is… weird,” Lo said
Understatement!