The Government announced today (January 8) that in view of the latest developments of the COVID-19 epidemic, it has decided to cancel the Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs at 15 locations and the Che Kung Festival Fair (festival fair) in Sha Tin scheduled to be held in February this year.
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said, "The current epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains severe and the risk of rebound of the epidemic situation has not subsided. There are also silent transmission chains in the community and the risk of cluster outbreaks."
"Earlier on, the Government has already adjusted the scale of the LNY fairs this year. However, it is possible that a large number of people may gather at the LNY fairs and the festival fair. The Government, after taking into account the development of the epidemic, has decided to cancel this year's LNY fairs and the festival fair so as to protect the health of stall owners and the public on site and reduce the risk of spread of the disease," he added.
The FEHD will inform the successful stall bidders of the decision in writing, and arrange full refund of the stall licence fee to them in accordance with the licence agreement as soon as possible.
The spokesman said, "To assist flower farmers to sell flowers through other alternative means, we will meet with major stakeholders of the trade to actively explore feasible measures under the premise of upholding the anti-epidemic principles, such as identifying suitable locations in public housing estates or other places in various districts for selling New Year flowers, with a view to minimising the impact of the cancellation of the LNY fairs on the trade."
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