That's exactly what the Chinese tour groups used to do, walking up and down Walking Street in the early evening, following the guy with the flag (in order not to, accidentally, stumble into a bar?)...
As they probably didn't even buy a bottle of water from the convenience stores, there was no need for any place else to open.
As for the OP, 9 p.m. these days is quite early to expect a busy bar, which is, IMHO, surprising, considering the early closing hours now.