Valentines make the most of weekend wooing
Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday - and, for many, it was a perfect match.
Couples had a full day to honour their romance. Flowers, often delivered to offices or homes during the week, were presented and cherished in public. Men were able to relax and show sentiment.
There was even tenderness in Central as young couples walked, arm in arm or hand in hand, while cradling an elegant rose or a magnificent bouquet.
Eric Hui, 25, a financial planner from Ho Man Tin, has dated Esther Liu, 25, a secretary from North Point, for 10 months.
Mr Hui sent flowers to Ms Liu's office yesterday, and then picked her up from work.
They were strolling through the IFC Mall with her bouquet when they stopped to talk about Valentine's Day and their relationship.
'Hong Kong people, we are always busy every day. Sometimes it's hard to express my love to her,' Mr Hui said. 'Sometimes she's really confused if I really love her or not, but after this day I'm sure she'll see that I do love her.
'She's the only one I think of.'
Twenty-one-year-old Ronald Yu, of Tsing Yi, surprised his girlfriend Yvonne Fan, of North Point, with a bunch of flowers when they met yesterday morning at the Central MTR station.
'I don't usually get her anything,' Mr Yu said outside the IFC Mall. 'I thought I should get her something this time. Today's a special day.'
Ms Fan, 21, thinks Valentine's Day is commercialised, but welcomed the annual February event. It gave her boyfriend 'a chance to express himself more', she said.
In Admiralty, Francis Chiu, 29, a computer programmer, moved through Pacific Place with a dark-hued bouquet containing many purple roses.
He planned to give the flowers to Joyce, his future wife, before joining her at a cake-making class.
'That wasn't my idea,' Mr Chiu said of the oven-oriented outing. Still, he was happy to attend. 'Whatever makes her happy,' he said.
One worker at a Pacific Place flower shop would have been happier with more customers. Only 20 last-minute shoppers had bought flowers between 10am and 1pm, she said.
The employee didn't blame the financial crisis for the lack of sales. Rather, she blamed the fact Valentine's Day had fallen on a Saturday, when office workers are away.
'Valentine's Day on weekdays is better,' she said.
