Crowds arrive early for Mid-Autumn lantern displays

A group of individuals arrived early at Victoria Park on Friday to admire the lantern displays prior to the Mid-Autumn Festival rush. Since opening on September 17th, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival has attracted sizable crowds, with lengthy lines forming during peak evening viewing times. One attendee mentioned that she came during the day to observe the finer details of the lanterns, praising their Chinese elements and worldwide influences.

She noted that the Chinese lanterns are particularly beautiful due to their intricate craftsmanship and that there were fewer people present at that time. Another visitor explained that she was already in the vicinity and chose to avoid the evening crowds. The government responded to the high public interest by announcing that lantern-lighting hours at the park would be extended until midnight from Thursday to Sunday, and the exhibition would be expanded by an additional week, running until October 4th.

Simon Wong, the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, reported that Chinese restaurants were experiencing strong business, with several establishments booking solidly for Friday night. He stated that the overall market situation was satisfactory, estimating that the catering sector revenue for the night could range from HK$320 million to HK$350 million.