Vendors at Hong Kong’s largest Lunar New Year fair express high hopes of strong sales as market makes full return after pandemic
- Seasonal fair in Causeway launches alongside 14 others across city on Sunday, marking return of hot food and merchandise vendors following pandemic
- Vendors at market expect foot traffic to pick up as festive holiday approaches, but some worry sales could be hurt if residents leave city for festive break
A Post reporter on Sunday night observed a visibly growing crowd after dark, as thousands flocked to the commercial district’s Victoria Park on the first day of the event.
Orchids, a popular festive flower believed to bring good fortune, proved to be a hit, with stalls selling the plant attracting many residents and people were seen leaving the fair with a pot or two.
The fair is one of 15 that launched across the city and is taking place in locations such as Kwai Chung, Kwun Tong and Yuen Long. The events will run daily until the start of Lunar New Year on February 10.
Jason Ng Ngan-fung was among the operators who secured one of four food stalls at Victoria Park during a government auction in November, with some businesses paying up to HK$220,000 (US$28,100) for a spot.
The snack stall operator, who is selling cooked squid, beef cubes, Japanese egg rolls and fishballs, on Sunday told the Post he was satisfied with the flow of people on the first day.
“You see people here moving about, it’s all right. If the weather remains good, we should be able to make some profit,” Ng said.
He added that alongside the rental fee, he had set aside about HK$200,000 for electricity bills and paid another HK$60,000 to put up his stall.
Temperatures are also expected to reach a low of 11 degrees Celsius (51.8 Fahrenheit) from Thursday, with the chilly conditions to carry on into the Lunar New Year break.
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Over in Victoria Park, dried goods vendor Alfred Cheung said business was slow on the first Sunday but was likely to pick up as the festive period approached.
“It is a little slow at the moment, perhaps because it’s a Sunday. I think it should get pretty crowded as we reach [Lunar] New Year’s Eve,” the 21-year-old said.
Cheung, a university student, said he had partnered with several friends to sell products “with Hong Kong characteristics”, such as festive decorations, cards, board games using local slang and MTR station-themed paraphernalia.
“We have never tried setting up a stall at the flower market before. We wanted to give it a try since it is making a return for the first time in a few years,” he added.
A flower vendor surnamed Chan said he remained “cautiously optimistic” about sales this year, but added that he had only reserved about 80 per cent of the stock he would have offered before the pandemic.
“I don’t know if a lot of people will be leaving the city, it is a bit worrying,” he said. “If they’re not home, they won’t buy flowers. And tourists can’t buy flowers either. They just come and look. Maybe, the souvenir shops will have better business.”
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Among those stopping at the fair in Causeway Bay was homemaker Maggie Tsang, who said she had deliberately come to the market early to avoid the crowds.
“You have to come before all the good stuff gets snatched up. And I think it will get really crowded at night, so it’s less fun when you have children like I do,” she said.
Tsang, who is in her forties and lives in the area, said she had previously come to the market during the pandemic, but “it didn’t feel quite right” without the food and dried good stalls.
“It’s much livelier now. Everyone wasn’t so happy in the past few years,” she said.
The Customs and Excise Department on Sunday also said it had reminded stall operators at various markets to avoid selling products that infringed on intellectual property rights.
Anyone caught selling goods with forged trademarks can be jailed up to five years and fined HK$500,000, it added.
