HONG KONG: The eager response to this year's auction of flower show commercial stalls offered insight into how things have changed over the past year, with stalls selling for about three times last year's prices.

Auctions of the Hong Kong Flower Show 2010 commercial stalls were held yesterday, with bidding on 49 sites. The bid prices on the four dry food stalls ranged from HK$85,800 to HK$97,000, an average price of HK$91,725 which is more than 2.5 times than that of last year.

Successful bidder Leung Yui-hung bid on all four dry food stalls spending a total of HK$366,900. He has actively participated in running commercial stalls at the flower show over the years. Last year he had two stalls. Compared to last year's bid prices, Leung's expenditure this year nearly tripled. Winning this year's bidding for the dry food stalls stretched his budget but he remains positive in the current atmosphere. He said he looked forward to good weather and good business as the flower show will attract a lot of traffic.

"The flow of people at the flower show is not bad," said Leung, "I hope this year will be better with the improved atmosphere."

Not only does he intend to participate in the flower show this year, but also he is planning stalls at the annual New Year Fair in Victoria Park, Mong Kok and Tsuen Wan. He said he was not looking for great profits but he thought participating in these fairs could help promote his company.

Leung sells chicken cake, a kind of traditional Chinese snack. He plans to be back selling chicken cake again at the flower show as he has over the past several years. This year, he intends to add some new flavors to the chicken cake such as Chinese red fermented bean curd and sesame.

Another successful bidder surnamed Lam bid on two fast food stalls and a subsidiary stall each, at HK$43,000 and HK$42,000. She said she and her family together have stalls at the flower show every year. The family sells sandwiches and light meals at small food stalls in Wan Chai.

One book stall was sold at the upset price of HK$11,470. Thirty-four goods stalls of size 5m by 5m were sold at bid prices ranging from HK$28,600 to HK$43,000 and four goods stalls of 5m by 10m went for between HK$55,100 and HK$70,000.

The Hong Kong Flower Show 2010 will last 10 days, from March 19 to 28 at Victoria Park.

(HK Edition 12/03/2009 page1)