But they may not be as scary as one man who dressed up as Covid-19, the coronavirus which roams the world over the past two years, killing more than five million people and triggering lockdowns which end all parties.

At 6 pm, D'Aguilar Street – a path to LKF – was already filled with people. Dozens of police guarded Wellington Street. Several police officers stopped and searched people on Stanley Street.

The hit South Korean series Squid Game has emerged as the top pick of cosplayers in LKF this year. Fans appeared in green tracksuits like contestants risking their lives for an ultimate prize, or in pink jumpsuits as the show's deadly guards.

Although the guards carry guns, 19-year-old Derek who cosplayed them did not bring any toy guns with him, citing the police reminder that members of the public should avoid using “imitation firearms” as props. That made his costume less “realistic”, he complained.

A woman who goes by the nickname “pink rice” still brought a toy gun as prop, saying she was not concerned about the reminder.

Lan Kwai Fong Association director Anthea Cheung So-may said business has finally gone up for bars, restaurants, and clubs this year, after the social unrest in 2019 and Covid-19 dampened the mood.

Cheung expected more than 100,000 people to visit Lan Kwai Fong from Friday to Sunday to celebrate Halloween.

Apart from LKF, festive crowds also headed to Wan Chai pier where a three-meter pumpkin was set up.