Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival Returns

After a four-year covid enforced break, the Tourism Board have announced that the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races will return to Victoria Harbor on 24-25 June.

Online registration for dragon boat teams will be open from 10am on 20 March on the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association website.

Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races 2023 schedule

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival

Dragon Boat Carnival
Date: 24-25 June, 2023
Venue: Off Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade
Tickets: Free

images: HK Tourism Board

Hong Kong Harbour Fiesta

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region the Hong Kong Tourism Board has announced a special edition of A Symphony of Lights. The Hong Kong Harbour Fiesta will run daily throughout July from 8pm – 8:10pm.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/202207-Hong-Kong-Harbour-Fiesta/i-HBcMZ8h

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images: Hong Kong Tourism Board

Project 4th June, a 24-hour Online Dance Commemoration of Tiananmen

Singaporean artist Ming Poon, aka Ming Apur, likes as he puts it to use choreography as a “tool to interrogate, disrupt and re-organise the social and political relationality of the body in time and space.”

Poon’s latest work is Project June 4th a 24-hour online commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests that looks to use dance to speak out against state censorship of peaceful dissent, criticism and the erasure and rewriting of history. For as Poon says “Once we forget, history repeats itself and the oppressors become emboldened”.

On 4 June 1989 the peaceful mass student protests in Tiananmen Square were ended by military force. Although more than 30 years have passed, the Chinese government still suppresses any mention or acknowledgement of the incident.

tankman 1989

On 5 June a single man stood against a column of tanks… Project 4th June commemorates those who were murdered, the movement and choreography of Tank Man represents as Poon puts it “the potential that lies within ordinary persons to stop the machines of violence and oppression. It is also a call-out to stand up against injustice, no matter how small we think we are and how insurmountable we think the task is.”

6 dancers will take turns performing Tank Man throughout the 24-hour commemoration. Each will attempt to interpret the choreography in a way that expresses their individual thoughts and relationship to the Tiananmen Square incident, state censorship and the fight for human rights and democracy.

The 6 dancers are:
1. Pink Tank: “Watch out, the world is not behind you.”
2. Tank Ghost: “Of Ghosts and Shells”
3. Tank Zheng: “No Tank On Rainbow”
4. Tank Sexy: “The Days Without Cigarettes / 沒有煙抽的日子“
5. Tank Plant: “Planting the Reality”
6. Tank Critique Critique: “Which Tanks Do You Need To Stand In Front Of?”

If you want to watch, join or participate (see the video above for the choreography) in the commemoration Poon has an event etiquette to help make it safe for everyone. Keep your identity, as well as others’ anonymous!

  • If you turn on your camera during the commemoration, put on a mask before doing so. Also, make sure that your background does not reveal any personal information, ideally sit with a blank wall as your background.
  • Microphones will be turned OFF by default throughout the commemoration, to avoid voice detection.
  • Before entering the commemoration room, replace your display name with an alias. Your alias should be written in the following manner: Tank ___ (e.g., Tank Person, Tank ABC, Tank 123, etc,). Do not include any personal information in it.

Project June 4th
Date:
4 June, 2022 (
Venue: live stream on Zoom and Youtube
Tickets: Free
More info: www.mingapur.com
live stream on Zoom and Youtube

Free Travel on MTR, Bus, Trams on 19 December

Even though almost everyone who wants to vote can easily walk to their polling station the government (scared of a low voter turnout?) has arranged free travel for all on Sunday 19 December, LEGCO election day.

“Members of the public will be able to enjoy free rides on the MTR, franchised buses and the tram.”

As the government puts it: “The above-mentioned public transport operators will provide free rides from the first to the last departure on that day. Services will be maintained at the normal level and be enhanced for busier routes and during peak periods subject to passenger demand and actual traffic conditions. The public transport operators will separately announce further details of the arrangement.”

The exact details of the free travel will be confirmed by the relevant companies.

LeaveHomeSafe App Required for Restaurants and Bars

From 9 December usage of the ‘LeaveHomeSafe‘ mobile app will be strictly enforced for entering all restaurants.

The Government has announced the updated arrangements for using the “LeaveHomeSafe” (LHS) mobile application that will take effect on 9 December 2021.

Scanning of the venue QR code will be required for entry to all premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). The modes of operation of catering business will also be adjusted accordingly…

Cap 599F covers all catering business premises that offer dine-in services, bars or pubs, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs or nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises, cruise ships, amusement game centres, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment, beauty parlours and massage establishments, clubhouses, sports premises, swimming pools, hotel and guesthouses, and event premises.

If you are not sure there is more information www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Women’s Rugby Fixtures: 20 November, 2021

A full house of women’s rugby this weekend!
Entry is Free!

image: hkrugby

New Year Countdown Concert

The Hong Kong Tourism Board will hold its first-ever New Year countdown concert at the West Kowloon Cultural District, Art Park.

Tickets for the concert, which will feature Mirror, Gin Lee, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Alfred Hui, AGA and other local singers are free and will be distributed by lucky draw. The concert will be live-streamed for those without a ticket.

Registration for the ticket draw is from November 15 to 26 at https://nycdconcert.discoverhongkong.com

Attendees must be double jabbed, wear face masks and use the LeaveHomeSafe app.

New Year Countdown Concert
Date: 10pm, 31 December, 2021
Venue: West Kowloon Cultural District, Art Park
Tickets: Free

LeaveHomeSafe App Required for Government Buildings

From 1 November usage of the ‘LeaveHomeSafe‘ mobile app will be strictly enforced for employees and members of the public when entering government buildings.

Scanning of the venue QR code will be required for entry.

What exactly constitutes a ‘government building’ is not defined in the announcement.

The more important question is if the government are willing to mandate usage of the LeaveHomeSafe app to enter. Why won’t they take the commonsense step and only allow entry to vaccinated people?

A requirement that is in place in several countries across the world. This would quickly boost the vaccination levels in the SAR.