Small Sai Kung business to continue its fight against government bureaucracy; will not cave in to the burons*

^{Cheese from Far is in Tak Lung Back Street by the Sai Kung Temple}

BUZZ has regularly highlighted the battles that small businesses in Hong Kong have with government bureaucracy, seemingly focused on stopping local, artisanal food and beverage outlets from being successful, such as the recent story on Casa’s run-ins with FEHD.

Now another local business, cheese specialist Cheese from Far has publicised its long-running dispute with various government departments in trying to open a specialist cheese shop in Sai Kung Old Town.

^{The shop is run by Ronald Massick and his wife Morn}

The social media message has been sent to customers on its mailing list and has since gone viral on social media.

This is the first time since our Xmas message that we are sending out a message for help to all our customers. We would like to inform you that the FEHD has decided that our cheese shop is not allowed to be situated where we are now, in the beautiful old town of Sai Kung.

After nine months and many hurdles they finally found a ruling (no one has ever heard of) to refuse us a licence to run a simple cheese shop. We will stay open and hope you can come and support us by signing a petition for us. We are not allowed to sell you a cup of coffee so we will give all our members a cup of coffee for free.

Thank you for supporting Sai Kung’s first European Cheese and Delicacies Shop in the beautiful small old town.Despite of the difficulties, we will keep going to continue and create special events and workshops for our customers. 

Please find the information: http://wa.wati.io/s/chmas

Thank you. Warm Regards, Ronald and Morn

^{The shop stocks cheeses and other delicacies from all over Europe}

BUZZ popped in to talk to Ronald Massink, who runs the business with his wife Morn. It’s just the sort of wonderful emporium that you would think the powers that be would love to have in Sai Kung, as it is a great draw for locals and tourists alike. But that does not seem to be in the mindset of the burons* in the Hong Kong Government who seem set on making it as difficult as possible for a small. specialist business to thrive and flourish. The result of this bureaucracy and nit-picking at obscure rules and regulations, accompanied by the greed of rapacious landlords, is why there are so many boarded -up shops all over town.

If you want to sign Ronald’s petition drop in to the shop on Tak Lung Back Street, by the temple, and be sure to take time to listen to the nonsense that has plagued the place ever since they decided to expand from their small shop opposite McDonalds a year or so ago.

*Buron – a bureaucratic moron.