Trying to get into a festive frame of mind against the odds

One of two stalls the League of Social Democrats operated at this year's

Lunar New Year flower market until the authorities shut it down today

I wonder how long this similarly political themed stall run by the

Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements

of China will be allowed to remain at the same venue 

With just four days to go before the Chinese New Year of the Rat (or Mouse, since the Chinese word for rat(s) also applies for mouse/mice) comes along, the world's biggest mass migration has begun.  This year, it is estimated that 3 billion trips are expected to be made during Chunyun (the Lunar New Year Spring Festival) as families reunite, with some featuring members returning to China from abroad as well as returning home from far flung parts of the country.

Despite the Wuhan pneumonia now having claimed six victims in the eponymous Chinese city and spread to other parts of China -- and, indeed, other parts of the world (with confirmed cases in Thailand, Japan, South Korea and now also Taiwan) -- there doesn't seem to be any plans to stop this massive human migration, which will invariably include trips made across the Mainland China-Hong Kong border.  And while Hong Kong doesn't have any confirmed cases as yet, many people believe that it's but a matter of time before this happens; this not least because of fears that the authorities are not dealing adequately with this medical threat.

Almost needless to say, the spread of the Wuhan pneumonia to Hong Kong really would dampen the festive mood.  As things stand, there will be no parade on the first day of this Lunar New Year nor will there be a fireworks show on the second day of the festival.  And the banning of dry goods, including satirical items, at Lunar New Year fairs held at government venues this year means that they really are just Lunar New Year flower markets for the most part -- and, consequently, have attracted way smaller crowds than usual.  

In previous years, I had enjoyed going to the Lunar New Year market at Victoria Park -- primarily to see the Chinese zodiac-themed goods on display.  While at the festive fair, I'd also check out the political satire on show and, in recent years, make a donation at one or more of the booths run by pro-democracy political parties and organizations.  

Denied the opportunity to do so this year, I've gone hunting instead for alternative, independently-run Lunar New Year fairs held in various parts of Hong Kong and, thus far, checked out ones in Mongkok, Sai Wan Ho, Causeway Bay and Hung Hom.  Looking at photos of the one held in Sai Wan over the weekend made me wish I had gone there too.      

There undoubtedly are people who think that the ongoing protests makes it so that this is not the time to smile, laugh and celebrate; this especially since the government has yet to show signs of acceding to the four remaining protestor demands.  More than incidentally, the authorities' lack of response and, also, Beijing's increasing encroachment into Hong Kong affairs has prompted Moody's to downgrade Hong Kong's economic rating; something that would be bigger news if it hadn't happened amidst the Wuhan pneumonia outbreak fears.      

For my part though, I feel that after the authorities ruined Halloween last year, threatened to do the same with Christmas and didn't allow 2020 to start off all that well, they surely ought not ruin what's the most important holiday of the year around these parts.  At the very least, I'll take what opportunities there are to try to be happy during this upcoming Lunar New Year -- and the days leading up to it -- even while also preparing by equipping myself with masks and such this year (along with more traditional accoutrements such as red packets to give out along with new clothes to wear, the latter for at least the first few days of the 15 year festive period)!