Conversation with Stall Owners in Protest-friendly Lunar New Year Market: Hongkonger Support Yellow Economic Circle that Promotes Democratic Values

“Eve with You” continued to take place on Percival Street, Causeway Bay from 12pm to 10pm in place of the conventional Lunar New Year Market. 

On the day of the interview, the crowds started to flow into the market at around 8pm. Packed with people, booths were spread out on three different levels selling flowers, jewellery, toys and board games. Three booths stood out to our reporter.

(1) A booth run by 3 high school students. 

The students said there were about 15-20 booths that were free for high school and university students to use. A public vote determined who got assigned a booth.

(2) A booth run by a 15-year old who actually paid for the booth and had to work with limited resources, the concept was also moving.

(3) A game counter called “Throw with You” run by a few adults, one of the partners also had a booth at the Victoria Park Market. He explained how the two venues differ and why they made their decision to set-up at here instead.  

Conversation with Jasmine, a student

GoHK: Would you mind telling me why you decided to open this booth?

Jasmine: Well, we wanted to do something for this movement and also wanted to revitalize

culture in Hong Kong because as you know, Hong Kong is lacking a but in its own culture. The name of our booth is “Flower of Hong Kong” which is the bauhinia. We would like to make Hong Kong people proud of the bauhinia and deepen their sense of belonging. So, the bauhinia is the theme for many of our products , for example our postcards, tape and stickers. 

GoHK: Are most of your products handmade?

Jasmine: Our accessories are all handmade. Our other products are all designed by us personally and then sent to factories in Taiwan and Hong Kong for production. 

GoHK: How do you feel about the cancellation of dry goods booths at the Lunar New Year Market in Victoria Park?

Jasmine: Well, it’s too bad that they had to cancel the dry goods section but this gave us an opportunity to organize the “Eve with You” markets so that we can promote the Yellow Economic Circle. I think that’s better in a way, students like us got to set up booths for free here so we were given an opportunity as rookie business owners. 

GoHK: So how did you get your booth for free?

Jasmine: So there were about 15-20 rent-free booths here that were up for bidding. We had to send in our proposals on their website and then there was a vote to decide which proposals would be accepted. 

GoHK: Who was the organizer of this market?

Jasmine: I believe it was someone called Steven. They had a Facebook page called “Booth Rental”. 

GoHK: Were there any rules or conditions when submitting the proposal?

Jasmine: You have to submit a picture of your student ID, and then write a proposal outlining the concept and products for sale. It was posted on their Facebook page and people can comment and give their “like” on the proposals. The ones with the most “likes” got the booths for free. 

GoHK: These free booths were all for high school or university students only?

Jasmine: Yes.

GoHK: If “Eve with You” did not happen, would you have set-up a booth at Victoria Park?

Jasmine: We actually have another place in Tsuen Wan called the Mills, where a kind shop owner agreed to display our products for sale on consignment. So, we were lucky but we wouldn’t have set up a booth in the Victoria Park market in any case.

GoHK: Why not at Victoria Park?

Jasmine: The price…and also concerns about people who might have issues with our products because of differences in political stance. 

GoHK: How do you compare this Citizen-initiated protest-themed market with the government-run Lunar New Year market in Victoria Park?

Jasmine: Actually, I think this is better than Victoria Park. Like I said, it gives newcomers an opportunity. And also, because everyone here shares similar political views so our products will have a common theme. This way we can boost support for the movement because part of the revenue from our sales will go towards charities related to the movement.

I think this is also good for the development of the yellow economic circle. 

GoHK: If they allow the sale of dry goods next year at the Victoria Park Market, will you consider setting up a booth there?

Jasmine: I think even if they allow dry goods again next year, “Eve with You” will still continue because the response has been very good. We didn’t expect this big turnout and at the beginning there were some obstacles trying to set this up. Like we were suppose to have it at another location in Kwun Tong but then there were some problems with the venue. 

GoHK: So, you will keep about 20% of sales?

Jasmine: Yes, to cover the costs.

GoHK: Do you have anything to add?

I hope everyone will persevere and keep our faith. We have to keep insisting on the Five Demands and not accept anything less than all five. I hope we can secure universal suffrage before the LegCo elections this September because that will be really good for Hong Kong. 

Conversation with Wai Wai, aged 15

GoHK: Please tell me your idea behind setting up a booth here?

Wai Wai: I’m a high school student so I am quite limited when it comes to contributing to the movement. I made some things with my crafting skills and all the money from sales will be donated to the Stand News. 

GoHK: How old are you?

Wai Wai: Fifteen.

GoHK: What kind of products are you selling?

Wai Wai: We are selling jackets, sweatshirts and postcards all designed by us, a group of high school students. A couple of days ago, we had some notebooks with handwritten slogans to encourage protestors but they are already sold out. So, we put out some postcards today and see if people will be interested as well.  

GoHK: Did you also design this jacket yourself?

Wai Wai: Yes, I had an idea and drafted the design. I was deciding between making a t-shirt and a jacket. Then, I added more details to the design, picked the colours and patterns. Finally, I went to talk to a manufacturer who made a sample. We checked the sample to make sure it was good enough quality before beginning production.

GoHK: Is this manufacturer in Hong Kong? Taiwan?

Wai Wai: Hong Kong.

GoHK: Did you consider bidding for a booth at Victoria Park?

Wai Wai: No, we didn’t consider Victoria Park. We saw this venue first actually. Besides, the market at Victoria Park was organized by the government and I did not want to support the government by paying them rent. In this movement, we differ in principle from the government so we would not have wanted to be at that market anyway. 

GoHK: If they had not canceled the sale of dry goods, you still wouldn’t have set-up at Victoria Park?

Wai Wai: No.

GoHK: Do you think support from Hong Kong people for this movement and this “Eve with You” market met your expectations?

Wai Wai: The support exceeded my expectations. When this event started to take shape and the preparations were under way, I was worried that many supporters of this movement may not have been aware of this market. I wondered if there would be enough people. But I took a chance anyway and now I see that the crowds and the support exceeded my expectations. The organizer also made great efforts to promote this event. 

GoHK: Who is this organizer for the event?

Wai Wai: We communicated by email only, there was no face-to-face meeting. I heard that the organzer was another guy originally. Sometime ago, there was an update then a little later I heard some rumours about this organizer but in the end, we only got updated by email so I never met the organizer.

GoHK: Do you think the organizer is doing a good job? What’s the name of the organizer?

Wai Wai: They’re pretty good. They planned it well and dealt with issues quickly. They just call themselves the “Eve with You” Team. 

GoHK: How are you going to support this movement going forward?

Wai Wai: Aside from financial and material support, as high school students we can support by doing peaceful activities such as writing letters and keeping the public informed using our words. I don’t think going on the streets to protest is the only way to support the movement, we can also promote our causes with words and behind-the-scenes work. Each of us has our own role in this movement, we do not want to have one main leader. We each do our share and work hard together to keep this movement going.

GoHK: What else would you like to say to Hong Kongers, other high schoolers and booth owners here?

Wai Wai: No matter how difficult this path and how much you may want to give up, there are many comrades out there supporting you. We are all working hard towards the same goal, so don’t give up. It is always darkest before dawn, then the light will come along with hope. 

Conversation with Mr. To

GoHK: Please tell me a little bit about the your booth here.

Mr. To: I have a friend who bid for a booth here. At first, we weren’t too sure but then we talked to a couple of other friends and then decided to go for it. It’s our way of supporting the yellow economic circle. Initially, it was supposed to be at Kwun Tong. Then, there were issues with that venue. Then, it was moved here but there were some minor issues as well but it still worked out in the end. 

A lot of people would come during lunch hour or after work, to browse and show their support. We are not actually concerned about whether we would lose or make money. We just want there to be a little bit of festive atmosphere before the New Year because there has been a lot of sadness recently in Hong Kong. But we don’t want to see people mired in their sadness for so long, so we are hoping to give everyone a little joy here. 

My partners and I have all been rather moved by the movement, so we just wanted to make a small contribution. When we did this before, we were selling goods . Usually, you would see more merchandise at New Year markets, so we wanted to do something different and came up with the game booth idea.

GoHK: Have you run a booth at the Victoria Park New Year Market before?

Mr. To: I, myself, have not but my other partners have done it before. Selling goods. Not game booth. 

GoHK: Do they think it’s better at Victoria Park or here?

Mr. To: Of course, there would more customer traffic at Victoria Park. It’s bigger, more open and well known to the public. We did a lot of advertising for this event though. There’s a sign downstairs but it’s still not easy to find. We tried to spread the word amongst our circle or on social media.

GoHK: If dry goods were allowed this year at Victoria Park, would you have considered setting up there instead?

Mr. To: We would still set up here. Even if the atmosphere is much better at Victoria Park, we would still not support it because it’s run by the government. I don’t want the government to take our support for granted. 

GoHK: How do you think this movement has affected Hong Kongers? What are the positives and the negatives?

Mr. To: To be honest, there are more negative effects than positive ones. However, I find the positive being how everyone has been able to achieve so much without a lot of communication. Like when one or two million people took part in the marches, I had never seen this happen in Hong Kong. From CWB to Central people packed the streets, I never imagined it could happen. So, that was something very encouraging and it showed how brave Hong Kong people are. That they will fight back when pushed to the limit and say no. 

GoHK: Some people say the movement has gotten quiet lately. Do you think this means it’s dying down or how do you see this lull?

Mr. To: Well, I think in any war there has to be a period of rest for both sides. We all expect a long road ahead, so this period of calm and rest is needed. No one can fight day in, day out for an extended period of time.