Thousands of migrant workers returned to Guangzhou yesterday after spending the Lunar New Year holiday at home in the provinces. But regulars at the station reported fewer returnees this year as a depressed economy made jobs scarce.

Sweet-potato hawker Zhang Xinhe said: 'More people are staying in the countryside. It's difficult to find work. Look at me, I'm only making 20 yuan (HK$19) a day - a quarter of what I made last year. And each day I have to worry about the police. They arrested me once recently and I had to pay a 500 yuan fine.'