Young Hongkongers spend less on Valentine’s Day, flower prices fall to 10-year low

Some cost-conscious Hongkongers have decided to spend Valentine’s Day by organising their own value-for-money celebrations, while a few florists have kept bouquet prices as low as the level 10 years ago amid a sluggish economy.

The Post found a number of young lovers had chosen to have lunch instead of dinner on Friday, while others had plans to spend the evening at home to avoid the higher prices often charged by restaurants on the day that celebrated romance.

Despite those inflated prices, many consumers nonetheless bought ritual bouquets for their partners, as the cost of flowers at many shops dropped rather than increased on the day.

Yuki Choi, a 30-year-old healthcare worker, said she would celebrate Valentine’s Day at her “love nest” with her boyfriend.

The couple planned to order food with a delivery service, and also bought a cheese platter and a bottle of wine, with a budget of about HK$500 (US$64).

“We prefer to stay home for dinner as meals on Valentine’s Day are expensive … It can cost us HK$1,000 for a Western set meal,” she said.