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Coronavirus

Hong Kong veers from free market policy with COVID-19 relief

Demands in exchange for wage subsidy raise alarms on corporate autonomy

A ParknShop store inside a mall in Hong Kong: the chain and rival Wellcome have been told by the government to give back to the public.   © Reuters

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's free market credentials have been called into question after the city government called on two supermarket chains to give back to the public in exchange for coronavirus-related subsidies.

Leading chains ParknShop and Wellcome have been under pressure since Hong Kong's leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, urged the companies to offer discounts and cash coupons to customers.

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