Chinese New Year (CNY) Market 2021 auctions were “less heated” than previous years, the head of Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) Vender Division Kam Chi Wai told reporters yesterday after the auctions for the incense and windmill booths in front of A-Ma Temple and Kun Iam Temple.
Kam made the remarks on the sidelines of yesterday’s auctions at the Activity Centre of the Patane Municipal Market.
Kam noted that in previous years, a booth in front of A-Ma Temple cost over 20,000 patacas. However, yesterday all the booths were auctioned off at their minimum price of 5,000 patacas and only two out of three booths in front of Kun Iam Temple were auctioned off for 1,000 patacas each. There were no bids for the third.
Kam said that this year fewer people took part in the auctions, adding that there was no competition for 10 booths outside A-Ma Temple, and therefore they were auctioned off at the minimum price.
According to a statement provided by the bureau during the auction, the upcoming CNY Market will have 24 dry goods booths, six flower booths and four cooked food booths in Praça do Tap Seac. The statement noted that the highest price last year was 33,500 patacas but the highest price yesterday was 22,000 patacas.
Chu, a bidder who paid 19,500 patacas for a booth, said that last year she got her booth for 27,000 patacas. She pointed out that last year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the market was cut short and fewer people showed up. She also said that last year her customers were mainly locals so she was not too worried that there would be fewer people this year.
Macau’s first COVID-19 case was confirmed on January 22, three days before Chinese New Year. The 2021 Chinese New Year falls on February 12.
Chu said that this year she did not make a profit but she was hoping that by having a booth at the CNY market could help promote her store and convey a positive message to residents.
A woman raises her bidding sign during an auction for a flower booth in Praça do Tap Seac at the Activity Centre of the Patane Municipal Market yesterday. Photo: Prisca Tang
