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Chaos erupts in computer fair queue

A long twisting line forming outside the Convention and Exhibition Centre early in the morning is a regular sight during the computer fair, with people eager to get in first and snap up bargains.

But the situation this year was slightly different. Police had cleared the area as Vice-Premier Li Keqiang was staying at a hotel nearby. Early birds were dispersed and quarrels began when queuing was allowed again: everybody claimed to be the first one in line.

Competition was fierce for two items - two iPad 2s on offer at an opening day price of HK$1.

Leading the line were 27-year-old Chan and 45-year-old Chung, who only revealed their last names. Chan, from Tuen Mun, said he had arrived at the exhibition centre on Wednesday afternoon but was asked to leave by security. When he returned to the spot that night, he found Chung had taken his place.

'He thought I was cutting in line. But I was just waiting around since the police had cleared the area,' said Chan, a frequent visitor to the computer fair. The two soon reached an agreement, deciding it did not matter who was in first or second place.

What the pair did not expect was that they were asked to leave again yesterday morning.

'We were told not to come back until the afternoon,' said Chung, who wanted to secure an iPad 2 for his son.

But in the afternoon when the security restriction was lifted, a free-for-all erupted as people raced to be first in line.

Louis, a Form Five pupil, snatched it but moved aside after Chan and Chung complained that he had taken their hard-fought positions. 'Whoever runs fastest should get the place,' Louis lamented.

The organiser said they had never encountered such chaos before. And it may all have been for naught.

A booth inside had 600 tokens to hand out, entitling the possessor to buy a HK$1 item, but the first two people lined up outside the fair may not necessarily get the iPads later on, a spokeswoman said.

The fair runs from Friday to Monday. More than 3,000 items will be sold for HK$1.

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