Empurau fetches RM6,155.72 at auction in HK

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Cheung (left), with the prized empurau after the auction, shakes hands with Tourism Malaysia’s director of International Marketing (North, East Asia) Nor Aznan Sulaiman.

KUCHING: A six-and-half kilogramme empurau fish was sold for RM6,155.72 at the Association for National Office Representative in Hong Kong Carnival held at TMT Plaza in Hong Kong last weekend.

Popular food critic Cheung Yat Ho’s final bid of HK$12,888 won him the prized trophy, beating three others. The bid opened at HK$1,988 at the three-day carnival.

The Sarawak empurau auction was the main highlight of the carnival, which started on March 13.

The gathering also featured the launching of MyFest 2015 and a cultural presentation by a Sarawakian traditional dance troupe.

Commonly known as the Emperor fish, the empurau is a highly sought after fish in Hong Kong for its rich and tasty flesh. It is a gourmet item in the island.

Tourism Malaysia’s Hong Kong office said in a statement that Hong Kong’s Tourism Board chairman, Peter Lam, visited Malaysia just because of the fish.

Proceeds from the auction were donated to a “Make-A- Wish Hong Kong”, a charity body based in the island city.

Sarawak’s Ministry of Tourism’s Permanent Secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik was elated on hearing the success of the auction, adding that Sarawak’s promotion in Greater China, particularly in Hong Kong, achieved new heights with the excitement and week-long publicity being done about the Emperor fish.