Long line for new notes for lai see packets prompts Hong Kong bank to open an hour early
Despite environmental impact, many still prefer fresh bills to used ones for stuffing red envelopes for Lunar New Year
More than 100 people queued up outside an HSBC branch in Mong Kok on a cold and rainy Wednesday morning, hoping to secure crisp new dollar bills to stuff in red envelopes for the Lunar New Year.
Some arrived as early as 6:30 am, with most of them being seniors, prompting the bank branch to start service at 7:30am, an hour earlier than its usual opening time.
The red envelope, also known as lai see, is given to children and employees during the first two weeks of the Lunar New Year, with a HK$20 note stuffed in it in most cases.
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An elderly woman, surnamed Lai, who had just got HK$3,000 in newly issued banknotes at another HSBC branch in Whampoa, Hung Hom, told the Post that the new dollar bill was a symbol of “lucky money”, which would bring her and those she cares about luck in the coming year.
Lai, who is 84 this year, has seven children and 14 grandchildren. She said she planned to give most people red packets with an HK$20 bill, but those who were close to her could get one with HK$50 inside.
The government has been urging people to use used notes to avoid the environmental impact of printing new ones in recent years, but many people remain more traditional.
A spokesman from HSBC said: “As always, we encourage our customers to use not only new banknotes but also those that are good-as-new for lai see packing.”
Despite the gloomy economic outlook this year, lai see money from the city’s elderly does not seem to be affected.
“Those who are still working might be affected by the economic downturn, but for us, it hardly has any impact,” she said.
