The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department today announced the latest anti-epidemic and footfall monitoring measures for the 2023 Lunar New Year fairs.

The fairs will be held at 15 locations from January 16 to 2am on January 22, with a total of 922 wet goods stalls selling New Year flowers.

In response to the Government's latest anti-epidemic measures, related arrangements at the fairs have been adjusted.

All participants must wear masks when entering or staying at the fair venues.

Stall operators must provide antiseptic hand sanitisers in their stalls for use by the patrons at all times during business hours. They are also required to carry out cleaning and disinfection of their stalls on a daily basis using 1:99 diluted household bleach.

The department has informed all stall licensees of the adjusted anti-epidemic measures in writing.

Apart from noting that admission to and exit from the fairs will be monitored using innovation and technology measures, it said special crowd management arrangement will take place at three fairs with high patron flow, including Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po and Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan.

When the footfall increases, the ticketing system will be activated and the public may get a ticket on site or obtain an e-ticket through a free mobile app. One may enter the fair with the ticket within 60 minutes after the ticket number is called.

The footfall and the waiting status of the 15 fairs will be displayed in a green, amber and red lights format on site and on the department’s website.

A green light means a few people are inside the fair and no waiting is required, an amber light indicates an increase in footfall and that waiting is required, and a red light represents a large number of people awaiting admission and that a longer waiting time will be needed.