bc magazine

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.

Centenary of Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower Bell

At 6pm today, 9 December 2021, a ‘Chiming Ceremony’ commemorated the centenary of the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower Bell. It’s the first time the bell has been heard in 70 years.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Kowloon Terminus used to be located at the present site of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback and built on reclaimed land overlooking the harbour; the Kowloon Terminus opened in 1916 as the southernmost railway station of China and served as a gateway between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

A lack of space for expansion saw the southern terminus move, in 1974, to a new station built on land reclaimed from Hung Hom Bay.

The station building was demolished in 1978 except the clock tower which was conserved thanks to the efforts of the Heritage Society. Additionally, six pillars of the original station building were moved to the Urban Council Centenary Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui East.

Now known as the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, the tower is a popular landmark. The Bell of the Clock Tower began service in 1921 and ceased operation in 1950.

Now in 2021 the Bell’s chime will be brought back and report the time via a digital bell system synchronised with the web clock of the Hong Kong Observatory, sounding hourly every day between 8am and midnight.

A “Centenary of the Bell – Resonance of Time” exhibition will run from 10-24 December in the foyer of the HK Cultural Centre. More information at www.hkculturalcentre.gov.hk/en/hkcc/TSTClockTower

Images courtesy of the relevant owners

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

Uber Eats to Shut Down

Food delivery platform Uber Eats will shut down on 31 December 2021.

Launched in 2016, Uber Eats was a late arrival to Hong Kong’s food delivery sector where Foodpanda and Deliveroo had a head start and have since become the two dominant platforms.

According to data analysis site Measurable AI, Uber Eats has barely 5% local market share compared to market leaders Foodpanda’s 51 percent and Deliveroo’s 44 percent.

Ngong Ping Nature Centre Reopens

After renovation, the Ngong Ping Nature Centre at Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island has reopened.

The Centre houses three interactive exhibits about Lantau’s culture, history and biodiversity; information about local hiking trails and offers a “free guided-tour service of famous scenic spots and native trees around Ngong Ping.”

The Centre also now rents maps and hiking poles.

Ngong Ping Nature Centre
Ngong Ping Village
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm daily including Public Holidays

Hong Kong Underwater Photo Competition 2021 Winners

The winners of the 10th Hong Kong Underwater Photo Competition 2021 – for photos taken in the year up to 30 September 2021 – have been announced and the winner in the Macro & Close-Up category is Fran Cheung for her image “Single-eyed Hairy Shrimp” (above) taken off Yin Tsz Ngam. While Henry Li is the Champion of the Standard and Wide Angle Category.

Macro & Close-Up

First Runner-up:
Poon Yiu Nam David – I Believe I Can Fly, taken off East Dam

Second Runner-up:
Henry Li

Standard & Wide Angle Champion: Henry Li

First Runner-up:
Yu Wing Chung

Second Runner-up:
Ho Tsz Hung Daniel

Exhibition of winning entries will be held as follows:

Date: 28 November – 2 December 2021
Time: 10am to 7pm
Venue: Venue A, Level 7, Fortune Metropolis, Hung Hom

Date: 2-6 January, 2022
Time: 10am to 7pm
Venue: Atrium C, L2, MOSTown, Ma On Shan

There is also a virtual exhibition of the winning entries at www.golocal360.co/HKUPVC2021/index.htm which is online until 27 November, 2022.

A booklet about this year’s competition and the winners can be downloaded here

The Wanch to Reopen in 2022

The Wanch team announced on their website and Facebook page today that the popular live music venue will reopen in early 2022. The new location will be just along the street from its previous incarnation at 90-92 Jaffe Road in what was previously Uptown 90. That’s opposite Joe Bananas.

Here is the post:

“Hi Everyone,
It has been challenging times since the pandemic hit worldwide in 2020. Times have been difficult for individuals, businesses, and the arts. It was a difficult decision to suspend operation of The Wanch back in August 2020, but a necessary one. At that time we made a promise to Hong Kong and the music community to reopen The Wanch when the time was right.

Well that time has come as on Dec. 1st we take possession of the venue that will become the new home of The Wanch at 90-92 Jaffe Rd, 1st Floor Henan Building (Formerly Uptown 90). Renovation starts the same day and we are targeting to open the doors with our first show sometime in Feb. 2022.

We will keep you all updated on the progress of the renovation with weekly pictures & videos on our website, Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. We look forward to rocking Hong Kong once again and joining all the other music venues that have been keeping live music alive. We look forward to being part of Hong Kong’s music scene & community once again.

Take care & watch for our updates.”

Many of Hong Kong’s musical legends created marvellous memories in the old location. Let’s hope the new Wanch inspires a new generation to create and inspire the beauty and sensuous pleasure that is ‘live music’.

The Wanch
1/F Henan Building (Formerly Uptown 90)
90-92 Jaffe Road
Wanchai

Italia Mia Film Festival

In December the Italia Mia Festival, organised by the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong, presents two Italian films and two operas filmed in Hong Kong.

The films are Tre Piani (Three Floors) directed by Nanni Moretti; Pinocchio by director Matteo Garrone. And the opera films Rita composed by Gaetano Donizettia, filmed at Haw Par Mansion; Waitress on Top – composed by Gennaro Antonio Federico shot at The Peninsula hotel in Hong Kong.

The films will be screened from 2-5 December at Premiere Elements Cinema, West Kowloon.

Three Floors (120 minutes)
2 December | 7:30 pm
4 December | 3:30 pm

Pinocchio (125 minutes)
3 December | 7:20 pm
5 December | 3:20 pm

Rita (60 minutes) – an Italian opera comique in one act co-written by composer Gaetano Donizetti and playwright Gustave Vaëz.
4 December | 1:00 pm

Waitress on Top (60 minutes) – Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s celebrated farce “La Serva Padrona” is re-imagined as a battle of the sexes and matching of wits in contemporary Hong Kong.
4 December | 2:15 pm