Hongkongers queue all night for shot at HK$7,000 abalone haul … and grandmother, 87, takes home the prize
A 19 year old and her grandmother were among the first to win HK$7,000 of the Chinese delicacy on the opening day of the food fair in Wan Chai
The city’s annual Food Expo got off to a flying start in Wan Chai on Thursday when a 19-year-old woman and her 87-year-old grandmother won thousands of dollars’ worth of dried abalone after successfully throwing a replica sea snail onto a wishing tree.
The jubilant pair, who gave their names only as Ms Yeung and Mrs Chan, won more than 200 abalones – grandma’s favourite – after spending 22 hours queuing before the expo opened at 10am.
Contestants were tasked with throwing fake abalones tied to red bands at a 3.5-metre-tall wishing tree to see who could affix one to the highest branch. Winners took home 21 boxes of the Chinese delicacy worth more than HK$7,000, after paying an entry fee of just HK$1 for the competition. Those able to strike a particular red branch were also winners.
“It was all worth staying up all night for,” Yeung said in a joyful winner’s speech.
It was the second time she had competed for free abalone at the expo, after she scrambled up a mountain of fake abalone last year.
Despite the pouring rain, hundreds of foodies lined up at the Convention and Exhibition Centre hoping to bag bargain bites and sample exotic flavours.