Lantern Festival markets are all the rage as districts plan ahead

Four districts across Hong Kong plan to host Lantern Festival markets to boost local consumption, as a scholar said the activities can help lure customers.

Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Wong Tai Sin and North district offices under the Home Affairs Department plan to hold Lantern Festival markets next month, according to documents tabled at the District council yesterday.

The Tsuen Wan District Office proposes holding a three-day Lantern Festival carnival from February 23 to 25 at the Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan.

"We propose inviting around 100 merchants, mainly small - and medium-sized enterprises within the district to sell sundries, food and cooked food," the district office stated in its proposal.

"There will also be various games and performances at the carnival to attract citizens to join the event, while traditional lanterns will be set up in the vicinity to celebrate the festival so that visitors can take photos with them at night."

The Lantern Festival market in North District will be held at the border town of Sha Tau Kok, which has just been opened to tourists starting from New Year's Day, while the market will feature Hakka snacks together with traditional and cultural performances.

Some districts plan to set up a marketplace during local festivities, with Sai Kung proposing a market consisting of 70 merchants during the Tin Hau Festival in May.

The Eastern District proposed to organize performances and provide consumption benefits to customers at nearby catering businesses during the birthday of Tam Kung, celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth Lunar month.

Apart from Lantern Festival markets, the department earlier allocated HK$1 million funding to each district council to set up photo hotspots.

Wong Tai Sin district council proposed erecting an arch decoration inscribed with the words "Wong Tai Sin" and cover the ground with paintings of local characteristics, while Sai Kung district council proposed erecting a statue of popular mainland fictional character QUBY at the Tseung Kwan O South Waterfront Park.

Economist Andy Kwan Cheuk-Chiu believes that such activities will be effective in boosting local consumption, with authorities planning to organize street performances.

"Hong Kong has been locked for three years [due to the pandemic]. When there is festive atmosphere, people will stay in Hong Kong to participate," Kwan said.

"But the activities should be well-designed with uniqueness and held in different districts each weekend. The authorities should not hold similar events in various districts at the same time. Otherwise, it will disperse people's consumption power," he added.

Kwan mentioned that photo-taking hotspots should relate to the culture and history of each district.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com