HONG KONG (Feb 10): Chinese hot pot stocks skidded in Hong Kong on Monday, after members of the same family who shared a large dinner in January were confirmed to have the coronavirus.

Haidilao International Holding Ltd., a major hot pot restaurant operator, fell as much as 7.3%, while peer Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co. lost 7.2%. Yihai International Holding Ltd., which makes seasonings and sauce products for hot pot, was down 4.5% before paring the decline.

Nine of the 19 people who had joined a family gathering on Jan. 26 have been infected with the virus after sharing a hot pot and barbecue meal, said Hong Kong’s department of health on Sunday night. Hot pot is a popular Chinese cuisine in which food is cooked in a communal bowl.

The hot pot sector was a strong spot for Hong Kong’s struggling stock market in 2019. Yihai was one of the best performing stocks on the Hang Seng Composite Index last year with a 139% surge, while Haidilao rose 82%. Xiabuxiabu has skidded 22% this year, making it one of the index’s biggest decliners.