Optimism ran high among stallholders as wet markets buzzed with activity on the second day of Lunar New Year, with families flocking to prepare their festive feasts.
Kowloon City market was packed this morning, with long queues at seafood stalls.
Among the shoppers, one elderly woman revealed spending over HK$3,000 on fish, prawns, and crabs for a hotpot dinner with 12 family members.
"Opportunities to gather with family are precious," she said, adding that happiness is what matters most.
Nearby, a couple purchased around HK$500 worth of ingredients for an eight-dish celebratory meal.
With braised pork ribs, sea cucumber and mushrooms and Hakka-style Yong Tau Foo—tofu filled with a meat mixture—already prepared at home, they expressed excitement for the three-generation gathering later.
They chose to celebrate in the city so their less mobile mother would not feel lonely during the three-generation reunion.
Leung, shopping with her daughter, supported the local economy by planning a multi-thousand-dollar dinner with friends.
She had prepared fish maw soup, ordered two fresh chickens, and selected fresh fish, pork knuckles and vegetables.
For one father, the meal was meant to welcome his married daughter and son-in-law home. He indicated plans for family shopping and later attend the evening's fireworks display.
One seafood stall reported increased foot traffic this morning compared to last year, with business up by 10 to 20 percent.
They revealed that leopard coral grouper and prawns were the best sellers, with prices remaining unchanged from last year.
Sin, a worker at a seafood stall, expected stronger sales this year, with customers spending between HK$500 and HK$1,000 on average.
Vegetable stall owner surnamed Tong noted 20 percent lower prices due to warmer weather and described customers as very generous, anticipating strong sales during the festive season, potentially returning to pre-pandemic levels.
She added that there were purchases of over HK$1,000 worth of vegetables, including symbolic items like lettuce for “wealth,” lotus root for “year-round abundance,” and pricier pea shoots.
Some chicken vendors, however, saw only average business with fewer orders and less traffic, blaming outbound travel, and hoped for improvement next year.
