China News Agency, Hong Kong, January 24th, title: Visiting Hong Kong florists and florists: Welcome the New Year under the "new normal"
China News Agency reporter Wang Jiacheng
Flowers bloom and fall for another year.
In the third Lunar New Year under the epidemic, the mutant virus Omikron hit, and the New Year's Eve Flower Market in Hong Kong was forced to cancel again.
Some florists and flower farmers said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency that compared with the previous two years, everyone is slowly adapting to the "new normal".
"The past two days have been very busy. As soon as the flower market was announced to be cancelled, many citizens chose to come to the flower market. It is more convenient because it is located in the urban area." Ms. Chen, a staff member of the flower market in Mong Kok, said while packing daffodils.
Ms. Chen's flower shop has been operating in the flower market for many years.
In her view, factors such as the epidemic and the cancellation of the New Year's Eve flower market will not have much impact on the store's own revenue.
"The capacity of the store will not change, there will only be so much stock, and the price will not change much," she said.
Looking around, there are many varieties of New Year flowers in the Huaxu: there are Phalaenopsis orchid, which symbolizes success, kumquat, which symbolizes good luck and good luck, peach blossoms that bless grand plans, and "five generations in the same hall", which prays for the success of the children and grandchildren.
Most of these annual flowers are planted by local flower farmers in Hong Kong, and some are also transported from the Mainland, Taiwan and Japan.
In a flower shop that specializes in Japanese orchids, there are not many Cymbidiums left on the flower stand.
The clerk said that these flowers were shipped directly from Japan. In the two years since the outbreak, both the shipper and the flower shop themselves have accumulated some experience in transportation, so the process was relatively smooth.
However, due to the uncertainty of the epidemic, the volume of goods purchased this year has been reduced to avoid unnecessary losses.
In order to subsidize florists and farmers and other industries affected by the tightening of epidemic prevention measures, the Hong Kong SAR government recently announced the fifth round of "epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic fund" measures, with a total amount of about 3.57 billion Hong Kong dollars.
In an interview with the media recently, the Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, also said that canceling the New Year's Eve Flower Market is a difficult decision. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will contact the affected flower farmers as soon as possible, refund the fees paid, and distribute the subsidy amount to them as soon as possible.
At the same time, some large shopping malls also lend out some places for free for farmers and florists, hoping to help.
However, some flower farmers bluntly said that although some people lend a helping hand, it is still difficult to subsidize all losses. They can only find other channels for bulk goods, some will rent temporary stores, and some will choose wholesale.
In contrast, florists who made backup plans in advance were much more relaxed after the "unexpected situation" that canceled the flower market.
The flower farm operated by Mr. Su is located in Tai Po, far away from the hustle and bustle and very quiet. The blooming phalaenopsis, lilies and other annual flowers are particularly lively here.
Mr. Su said that as soon as the SAR government announced the cancellation of the flower market, the flower farm began to promote it through the media and social platforms, hoping to attract more citizens to directly choose the flower market.
"Everything that will happen this year is expected. In fact, the amount of planting has been reduced by about 30%." He introduced that at present, the main visitors to the flower farm are regular customers, and more citizens will drive to play on weekends and holidays.
The Spring Festival is approaching, and before you know it, the New Year's flavor in Hong Kong is getting stronger and stronger.
On the way back to the city from the flower field, you can see red lanterns, pink peach blossoms and other decorations from time to time, which is very festive.
As in previous years, the stalls of Huichun have been set up, and pairs of Spring Festival couplets are all hopes for the new year.
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