Relief for vendors as Lunar New Year Fair stall prices down on last year

Vendors reclaimed lost territory yesterday as dry-goods stalls for next year's Lunar New Year Fair in Victoria Park went for lower prices at auction.

Democracy activists who missed out last year on one of the two stalls they have occupied at the fair for decades were delighted to secure both this year.

"I am pleased that we didn't disappoint [our supporters] and secured the two stalls we wanted," vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, said. "We had been the occupants for decades when the late Szeto Wah used to write traditional greetings in Chinese calligraphy for our supporters," Tsoi said, referring to the veteran activist who died in 2011.

The alliance won the No 1 and No 2 stalls near the park's Tin Hau entrance for a combined price of HK$54,700, down from the HK$94,000 they paid for the only stall they could get last year.

Despite the lower prices for some stalls, the two most expensive of eight themed stalls - selling only Lunar New Year food, spring couplets, toys or decorations - drew record-breaking prices of HK$96,000 and HK$101,000.

This mirrored results at Monday's auction of food stalls when the biggest booth went for some HK$540,000 - 80 per cent higher than the price paid for the same stall at this year's fair.