Frustration as rain ruins 'Happy' sales

Wallis Wang

Many were unhappy and frustrated about the outdoor "Happy Hong Kong" food fair at Sha Tin being closed for three hours amid pouring rain yesterday, when the observatory issued this year's first red rainstorm warning.

Hundreds arrived at Sha Tin Park around lunchtime, but had to leave with an empty stomach because it was closed at around 1pm after an amber rainstorm alert was hoisted at 12.10pm.

The warning was upgraded to red at 1.35pm before being reduced to amber again at 2.45pm. All warnings were lifted at 3.15pm.

The Home Affairs Department said the fair was reopened at 4pm, but did not say if it had any contingency plans or compensation for the companies joining the fair.

Dozens of food-stall operators slammed authorities for "failing to cope" with the rainy weather after the observatory's nine-day forecast on April 29 previewed a medium to high probability of significant rain for yesterday. They said they suffered losses for food that could not be sold.

A stall operator selling baked goods said she had to give food worth thousands of dollars away after ceasing operation early.

Another operator said they did not know how to handle unsold products. "It's impossible that the authorities didn't know about the weather [if they checked weather forecasts]," the operator said, adding that the government could have made appropriate arrangements like moving the fair indoors.

A stall owner selling dessert said she was surprised about the reopening at 4pm, adding that she was happy to see some 20 customers and two popular flavors of cookies being sold out before the fair ended at 6pm.

Dozens visiting the fair at around 1pm were denied entry.

A family with a child who came from Southern District said they were disappointed, "but we can teach our child that not everything goes to plan," the family said. "We can still go shopping at nearby malls."

A couple who traveled all the way from Sai Kung said they were "unlucky." But the husband supported the government in organizing similar events to boost the local economy.

A group of elderly citizens said they had been looking forward to the fair. One of them said she lost the opportunity to taste some new dishes.

An Indonesian domestic helper said her daughter is studying to make cakes and coffee in her home country and so she traveled from Tai Wo to show her daughter the atmosphere of the fair via video chat. But that ended in disappointment, she said.

Some people, meanwhile, complained that the products sold at the park were too expensive, adding they were charged HK$30 for six fish balls and HK$80 for stir-fried rice noodles.

But stalls still saw a large crowd of customers during the weekend except when the rain forced its suspension.

The observatory said the heavy rain was caused by thundery showers affecting the coast of Guangdong and the northern part of the South China Sea.

"More than 40 millimeters of rainfall were recorded over many places. Rainfall over the northern part of the New Territories and parts of Lantau exceeded 60 millimeters," it said.

The observatory said the rainy weather will persist early today, before easing off later in the day.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com