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2018 Lunar New Year fairs to be held in various districts starting February 10
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     The 2018 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs organised by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will be held at 15 locations for seven days from February 10 to 16. About 2 000 wet goods, dry goods, thematic and fast food stalls will be set up to enable the public to buy festive plants and flowers, LNY food, decorations and spring couplets (fai chun) to welcome the Lunar New Year.
      
     An FEHD spokesman said today (February 6) that while the Environmental Campaign Committee has engaged non-profit-making organisations to organise four Green LNY fairs, the FEHD will also introduce a series of measures in other fairs to promote waste reduction and clean recycling this year.
      
     He said, "The FEHD will set up recycling corners in the fairs to collect recyclables including waste paper, plastic materials and metal for recycling. Green ambassadors will also be deployed on-site to promote green messages to the public and assist visitors to properly dispose of recyclables at recycling bins. In addition, the FEHD and the Environmental Protection Department will collaborate to arrange for contractors to collect wooden pallets and bamboo for recycling after the close of 13 fairs as well as recycle unsold peach blossom trees from the fairs in Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park.
      
     "As in previous years, the FEHD will gather unsold pots of flowers and plants donated by the vendors in the fairs, which will then be delivered to elderly homes, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and public hospitals by volunteer teams made up of FEHD staff on Lunar New Year's Day."
      
     Furthermore, the FEHD reminded fair stall operators that no aquarium fish or hydrogen-filled balloons should be sold in the fairs. If balloons or gas-filling articles are to be displayed or offered for sale, only air or helium is allowed to be used for inflating the products. There are also stipulations on the storage of helium cylinders at the fair venues. According to the licence agreement, the quantity of helium kept, stored or used by each designated stall operator should be such that a licence is not required pursuant to the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (Cap 295B), i.e. one cylinder of helium.
      
     The spokesman said, "In view of earlier incidents that occurred in other places where floating LED glowing balloons suspected to have been filled with flammable hydrogen were heated and exploded, and the fact that most people cannot know whether a floating balloon is filled with hydrogen or another gas, for the sake of safety, no floating LED glowing balloons will be allowed to be brought into the LNY fair venues."
      
     He added, "As LNY fairs are traditional festive events for family enjoyment, we attach great importance to public safety. Notices will be displayed at the entrances of fair venues and announcements will be made to call on visitors not to bring floating LED glowing balloons into the venues."
      
     The spokesman also urged members of the public to keep the environment clean and not to litter while enjoying the festive season. Stall operators should also properly dispose of waste and keep their stalls and the surroundings clean and tidy.
      
     Details of the 2018 LNY fairs including the locations and opening hours of the fairs are available at the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk).
 
Ends/Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:10
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