Eunice Lam

The Democratic Party was disqualified from winning its bid for a stall in the Victoria Park flower market for "breaching the auction terms" and was not given any explanation.

On the second day of the auction yesterday, some 200 dry goods stalls and eight thematic stalls intended for Lunar New Year food, goods and decorations were put up for open auction at the Lai Chi Kok government offices.

A staff member of the party had the winning bid for the number one stall, which faces the Tin Hau entrance of Victoria Park. But when the staffer registered with his personal information, he was told by officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department that his bid was disqualified.

Democratic Party chairman Lo Kin-hei said FEHD officers cited the flower market's auction conditions and requirements that "the government reserves the absolute right not to enter into a Licence Agreement with any successful bidder without cause."

He felt disappointed for being disqualified from running a stall, as the party considered the flower market a good opportunity to communicate with citizens.

But Lo was also surprised that the staffer was disqualified without stating he was from the party: "Technically the name of Democratic Party didn't appear throughout the auction."

Before the Covid pandemic, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China had won the bid for the number one stall until its disbandment in September 2021.

Students were also eligible to bid for a stall in the flower market. One university junior, surnamed Cheung, said he won with a bid of around HK$12,000 and was considering selling board games and spring couplets.

"There have been a couple of years that there were no dry goods stalls in the flower market. If we are not joining [before graduation], we may not have time to do so in the future," Cheung said.

But he said he feels the pressure of the newly-added national security terms for operating a stall in the flower market and will refrain from using any content that is "definitely unacceptable" to avoid misunderstanding.

"Still, we have no idea where the line is drawn," he said.

Another vendor, named Mannie, planned to sell handmade candies and she was not worried her business would be affected by the trend of many people going to the mainland for leisure.

"Although some will go [to the] mainland for leisure, I am still confident that Hongkongers will stay in Hong Kong," Mannie said.

Florist Yeung Siu-lung, known as the "Orchid King", said the price hike of stalls was caused by "mainland merchants" who are clueless about Hong Kong's market situation.

But Yeung also said Hongkongers attach great importance to New Year flowers, therefore he is not worried that citizens will cross the border for the long holiday during Lunar New Year and affect his business.

Bloom gloom: