People headed to the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree in Taipo on Wednesday (Jan. 29), a traditional event on the first day of Lunar New Year.
It's believed that throwing a placard with one's wishes, and a mandarin, onto the tree will make the wish come true.
Tourism Minister Rosanna Law was also at the venue. She wished for Hong Kong athletes to achieve good results in all competitions.
Speaking to the press, she said she hoped tourists would enjoy a happy Lunar New Year in Hong Kong.
"We have a float parade tonight, fireworks for tomorrow, horse racing on the third day, and the Lunar New Year Cup on the fourth day. There are also a lot of activities at temples, and today is also a great day for hiking. I believe everyone will have a happy Spring Festival in Hong Kong," Law said.
This year, the Lam Tsuen Well-wishing Bazaar has been scaled up, with a Tai Po district council member saying it will boost the festive atmosphere and local economy.
The event, introduced last year, starts on Wednesday and runs until February 12.
Speaking on a RTHK program, Lo Hiu-fung said he expected an increase in footfall of at least 10 percent this year.
"We saw a lot of nearby residents and tourists coming to the bazaar at night, last year. So this year, we decided to host the event again, and we made it bigger. The number of food stalls has doubled to more than 20," he said.
He said the event would again feature floats this year.
(Source: RTHK)
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