Hong Kong’s largest Lunar New Year fair plagued by sluggish sales, vendors say, as some eye further cuts to break even
- Some hawkers attribute lull in earnings to residents travelling abroad during holiday, while others cite unstable weather
- Lunar New Year fair at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay is first one operating at full capacity in four years
Hong Kong’s largest Lunar New Year fair has been plagued by sluggish sales with some vendors eyeing further cuts to prices in hopes of breaking even, as the days-long event in Causeway Bay approaches its final day on Friday.
Some hawkers attributed the lull in sales volume to the border reopening that prompted residents to travel during the holiday, while others cited the unstable weather as their foe.
“I started to reduce the price on Thursday and offered further discounts today. The prices are down 30 per cent already,” said a stall owner surnamed Tsui, who was selling plush toys of Japanese animated characters.
“Sales have been worse than in previous years. After the borders reopened, people kept going to the mainland and travelling overseas. I just want to recover my costs.”
This year’s Lunar New Year fair in Victoria Park was the first one operating at full capacity in four years following the Covid-19 pandemic, with cooked food and merchandise making a return.
A check by the Post on Friday afternoon found that flowers and snacks, including toffee strawberries and mochi, appeared to be more popular than merchandise.
Mainland Chinese tourist Emily Tan, 65, said she felt the warmth of the festive atmosphere at the fair and had spent about HK$600 (US$77) on orchids, local snacks and a pinwheel, which signifies good luck in Chinese culture.