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Jiang Chuqin

Glow sticks are still widely available at traditional Hong Kong shops selling decorations for the Mid-Autumn Festival despite a ban on single-use plastics, as vendors rush to clear their stock while also battling economic headwinds.
All seven shops the Post visited on Monday in Wan Chai and Sai Ying Pun were selling glow sticks, with one shop advertising them as “the last year” they could be bought.
Only one staff member did not know about the plastics ban, with some shops either ordering fewer of the products this year or only selling whatever was left over from past celebrations.
“We will give out the remaining glow sticks for free to kids after the Mid-Autumn Festival,” said Kwan Wing-ho of incense and paper crafts shop Po Tai Hong.
He has worked at the Sai Ying Pun store for more than 30 years selling lanterns and decorations.
He said the shop had bought fewer glow sticks this year, knowing a six-month grace period for the ban’s enforcement would finish at the end of next month.
There were seven packs left on the day before the start of the festival.
Glow sticks are on the city’s list of prohibited single-use plastic products under a ban that came into effect on April 22. Businesses that sell and distribute the items have a six-month grace period to adapt to the requirements.

Plastic products such as straws, cutlery, styrofoam food containers, umbrella bags and cotton buds cannot be sold locally under the ban.
Chun Shing Hong, a similar shop in Sai Ying Pun, chose not to buy more glow sticks for the festival.
“Fewer people are interested in the sticks because of environmental concerns. Plus we will no longer be allowed to sell them shortly,” said Zhong Yan-min, 41, who has worked in the shop for almost 10 years.
“So we will just sell what is left from previous orders.”
Only five packs remained at the store on Monday, with more passers-by interested in the price of different shaped lanterns. The most popular item this year was a rabbit lantern made of bamboo and paper, according to Zhong.
Most lantern shops have reported a drop in sales generally compared with the last Mid-Autumn Festival, citing reasons such as the declining population and less exuberant atmosphere of celebration.

“I feel like kids are not that interested in traditional lanterns to celebrate the festival any more because they have more entertainment options compared with the old days, such as video games,” Zhong said.
“Moreover, there are fewer and fewer children around. More families choose to immigrate overseas or to mainland China. So we are suffering from fewer consumers.”
Zhong said the sales of festival items had decreased by at least 30 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Another gift shop at Tai Yuen Street in Wan Chai, known as “toy street” and described as “a treasure trove of toys” by the Tourism Board, also said sales of decorations were mediocre and “definitely less” than previous years.
The owner, who only gave his last name, Yeung, said it had sold 70 to 80 per cent of the stock of glow sticks and would put the remaining away once the ban was enforced at the end of next month.
More than 40 packs were available for HK$20, with each containing 50 sticks.
Authorities earlier warned they would use enforcement powers even during the grace period if repeated advice was ignored.
But the ban only targets sellers, with consumers avoiding prosecution.


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Hong Kong shops still selling glow sticks for Mid-Autumn despite single-use plastics ban

Glow sticks on sale at a Wan Chai toy store. Photo: Dickson Lee

Glow sticks are on the city’s list of prohibited single-use plastic products under a ban that came into effect on April 22. Photo: Dickson Lee

Authorities have warned they will use enforcement powers even during the plastics ban’s grace period if repeated advice is ignored. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Visitors tour the Tsim Sha Tsui area. Hotel industry representatives have suggested moving the annual Wine and Dine Festival there. Photo: Jelly Tse

Room rates were reduced by 20 per cent at Miramar’s hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, to deal with flagging occupancy across the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period. Photo: Jelly Tse

Visitors walk through a mostly empty 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jelly Tse

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An elaborate lighting display at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: Eugene Lee

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Lanterns displayed at Tai Kiu Market of Yuen Long ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: Sam Tsang

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News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Hong Kong economy

Sellers rush to clear stock before grace period ends next month, as economic mood and changing trends weigh on traditional stores


Sellers rush to clear stock before grace period ends next month, as economic mood and changing trends weigh on traditional stores.
