Calmer political days in Hong Kong result in drop in donations for pro-democracy groups at Lunar New Year fair

Demosisto raises HK$480,000 at the six-day fair in Victoria Park, the highest among groups for the third year in a row

Other major political parties also saw donations fall significantly this year

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Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung poses with a tote bag at the Demosisto stall in Victoria Park. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 10:48pm, 5 Feb 2019Updated: 4:03am, 6 Feb 2019

Pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong have received fewer donations from Lunar New Year fair shoppers this year, with party leaders pointing to less politically charged times in Hong Kong as a reason.

Demosisto said it raised about HK$480,000 (US$61,500) from souvenir sales and donations at the six-day Lunar New Year fair in Victoria Park, the highest among the different groups for the third year in a row.

However, the figure was down from HK$780,000 last February, when Demosisto member Agnes Chow Ting had just been banned from running in a Legislative Council by-election.

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China came in second this year with HK$350,000 in donations before deducting operating expenses. It was followed by the Justice Defence Fund, which secured about HK$277,000 to support the legal battles of several activists and liberal scholars, including for the trial of nine leaders of the 2014 Occupy protests.

The Lunar New Year fair at Victoria Park. Photo: Edmond So

The alliance received about HK$375,000 in 2018, while the fund took some HK$310,000.