Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair Booths Draw Record Bids; Fast Food Stall Sells for HK$280,000
AM730 · 7 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair booth bidding commenced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, drawing intense competition for fast food stalls amid divergent views on market prospects. A stall near the Tin Hau MTR exit fetched the highest price of HK$280,000, marking a 20% rise from last year's peak, while several vendors expressed pessimism about the retail environment, with one 72-year-old operator describing his participation as "dying on the battlefield." The fair will run for seven days from January 31 to February 6, 2027.
Key Points
- A fast food stall near Tin Hau MTR exit (Stall A) sold for HK$280,000 after 12 rounds of bidding, becoming the "shop king" of the venue, representing 2.3 times the base price of HK$120,470
- Fast food stall prices ranged from HK$150,000 to HK$280,000, averaging HK$220,000, a 34% increase from last year's average of HK$163,750
- Wet goods booths saw weak trading with many sold at the base price of HK$6,530; "Orchid King" Yeung Siu-lung secured two stalls for approximately HK$9,300 each, calling it "the best deal ever"
- Vendor Mr. Chan, 72, who paid HK$260,000 for a stall near Causeway Bay entrance, said Hong Kong people have stopped spending and does not expect to break even
- The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will deploy more staff to patrol the venue and enforce height limits and safety requirements for all stalls
Why It Matters
The bidding results offer a real-time snapshot of business sentiment ahead of Hong Kong's most iconic Lunar New Year celebration, with the 20% price surge for prime stalls contrasting sharply with subdued interest in wet goods booths. The divergence underscores an uneven economic recovery and heightened concerns about local consumer spending, particularly among smaller operators relying on the annual event for their livelihood.
The bidding results offer a real-time snapshot of business sentiment ahead of Hong Kong's most iconic Lunar New Year celebration, with the 20% price surge for prime stalls contrasting sharply with subdued interest in wet goods booths. The divergence underscores an uneven economic recovery and heightened concerns about local consumer spending, particularly among smaller operators relying on the annual event for their livelihood.