bc magazine

RIP Paul “Penguin” Baynham

bc was saddened to learn overnight that Paul Baynham, better known to friends and clubbers everywhere as ‘Penguin’, passed away. Our condolences and best wishes go to his family, children, grandchildren and friends.

A life well lived! Chapeau, my friend, you brought happiness, joy and lasting memories to friends and strangers alike, enriching the lives of those around you. Thanks for the memories, Penguin!

Penguin was much loved by many:

Mike Leeder shares his memories of Penguin here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18CmFEed9G/

As Marvin Bernad eloquently puts it:
“Paul Baynham, also known as DJ Penguin, had a vibrant life filled with music, adventure, and love. According to the post, he was a DJ and a force of nature, known for turning any night into an adventure and making every moment unforgettable. He had a long career, playing at various iconic venues in Hong Kong and Tokyo, including Hot Gossip, Julianna’s, Rick’s Cafe, and Hard Rock.

Beyond his professional life, Paul was a devoted family man. He was a loving father to his son Ben, a steadfast husband to his wife Cress, and a cool grandad to his grandkids. He brought the same passion and energy to his personal life, filling his home with warmth and mischief.

Throughout his life, Paul created countless memories with friends and family, marked by laughter, adventure, and a love for music. His legacy lives on through the memories he left behind, and he’s remembered as someone who knew how to live loud, love deep, and never take a single moment too seriously.”

Chinese New Year Night Parade 2026

The annual Chinese New Year Night Parade lit up the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui on 17 February to celebrate the first day of the Year of the Horse.

This year’s parade, organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and themed “Best Fortune. World Party”, featured over 50 floats and performing groups from around the world welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse.

Find out more events to celebrate the start of the Year of the Snake at the HKTB Guide to Chinese New Year in Hong Kong website.

International Chinese New Year Night Parade 2026
Date: 8pm, 17 February 2026
Venue: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tickets: Free

images: HKTB

Rugby Week 2026

Time flies when you’re having fun, 2026 see the Hong Kong Sevens turn 50 – yup 50 years of great rugby, hangovers, south stand chaos and of course Sweet Caroline sung by now 50,000+ fans!

The traditional rugby week curtain-raiser Kowloonfest is 21… and yet still feels like a playground social where community and camaraderie are as important as the competitive action on the pitch.

The Hong Kong 10s at the Hong Kong Football Club, celebrates 40 years of proper scrums and brutal power forward play. It’s perhaps the closest we in Hong Kong can get to seeing modern rugby up close and personal. Select teams packed with international big-name talent bring a physicality and rawness to the rugby images seen on television that really needs to be experienced inperson.

Amidst the Sevens partying, a rugby tournament does take place… If we’re being honest last year’s debut at the new 50,000 seater Kai Tak Stadium was distinctly underwhelming. With the South Stand looking empty the whole weekend. The accoustics so bad you could barely hear anyone singing and the concession stands running out of food… It was like the architect had ever been to an event in a stadium.

It’s mid-February and tickets are still available for the Sevens 50th Birthday… Sadly, the endless list of nitpicking stadium rules and ‘innovations’ has sucked the spontaneity and joy from what was the World’s greatest sporting social event.

Can the enshitification be reversed? We can only hope so! Why, because Hongkongers and HKsevens fans around the world have so many amazing memories and life-changing experiences from the Sevens… And we want others to enjoy and experience the magic that is the Hong Kong Sevens.

Here are the dates for your Rugby Week 2026 diary.

Hong Kong International Touch Championship 2026
When: 21-22 March 2026
Where: Happy Valley Recreation Ground
How much: tbc
More info: www.facebook.com/hktouch

Kowloon Fest
When: 16 April 2026
Where: Kings Park
How much: Free
More info: www.rugbyfest.org

Hong Kong Tens – Fortieth Anniversary
When: 14-16 April 2026
Where: Hong Kong Football Club
How much: $320, $150
More info: www.hkfc-10s.com

HK Sevens – 50 Years!
Date: 17-19 April 2026
Venue: Kai Tak Stadium
Tickets: $2,250
More info: www.HKsevens.com

Year of the Horse Night Parade

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) annual Chinese New Year Night Parade will light up the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui to celebrate the first day of the Year of the Horse.

The Year of the Horse symbolises strength, success and positive momentum in Chinese culture.

The first float and parade group will arrive at Canton Road at around 8:30pm and at Nathan Road at around 9pm. The last float will arrive at the endpoint at around 10:30pm.

Year of the Horse Night Parade
Date: 8pm, 17 February, 2026
Venue: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tickets: Free

2025 Rugby Championship

SANZAAR has today confirmed the match schedule for the 2025 Rugby Championship that will be played from 16 August to 2 October.

The Rugby Championship (TRC) mini-tour format will remain in place, with each team playing six matches comprising three home matches and three away matches. Each team will host a two-match tour, will play an away two-match tour, and play a one-match home and away series against the third remaining team.

This year, South Africa will host Australia for two matches before heading to New Zealand for two away matches. New Zealand will head to Argentina for its away mini-tour prior to hosting South Africa, while Australia will host Argentina for two matches.

The Bledisloe Cup home and away Tests between Australia and New Zealand will take place in Perth and Auckland this year, with South Africa and Argentina meeting in Durban and London. The London fixture will be only the second time a Rugby Championship match has been played outside of the four core territories of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris stated, “The Rugby Championship is the pinnacle of southern hemisphere rugby and one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments. This year will be no different as some of the best Test teams in the world do battle across 11 cities across the four nations.”

“Anticipation is again high for the 2025 edition of TRC as the top talent from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa do battle for southern hemisphere supremacy. South Africa are the current World Champions and incumbent Rugby Championship champions, while Argentina are now fifth in the world rankings. New Zealand will warm-up with a Test series against France while the Wallabies have a big series against the British & Irish Lions to prepare for the Championship.”

“This year the tournament finishes with a match at Allianz Stadium Twickenham in London when Argentina host the Springboks. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase The Rugby Championship in the UK.”

Additional reporting and images: SANZAAR

Rugby Week 2025

After the individual creativity of Art Week, the wonders of team creativity are on display as Rugby Week 2025 scrums down.

The traditional rugby week curtain-raiser Kowloonfest celebrates it’s twentieth-anniversary tournament!

A new addition to Hong Kong’s Rugby Week is the Hong Kong International Touch Championship 2025. Touch rugby’s increasing popularity sees a move for the tournament to ‘Rugby Week’ with the hope of attracting new players and more fans. At last years

The best ‘rugby’ of the week, the Hong Kong 10s at Hong Kong Football Club, proper scrums and brutal power forward play are features of the Tens – especially on Thursday night. It’s perhaps the closest we in Hong Kong can get to seeing modern rugby up close and personal. Select teams packed with talent and big names, new and old, from around the world bring a physicality and rawness to the rugby images seen on television that really needs to be experienced in person.

Amidst the Sevens partying, a rugby tournament takes place… And this year it’s going to be at the new 50,000 seater Kai Tak Stadium… The main question among Sevens fans is will the move to the new stadium allow the HK Sevens to recover its allure as one of the world’s great sporting/social events? Tickets are still available, which is not a good sign…

Here are the dates for your Rugby Week 2025 diary.

Hong Kong International Touch Championship 2025
When: 23 March, 2025
Where: Happy Valley Recreation Ground
How much: tbc
More info: www.facebook.com/hktouch

Kowloon Fest – Twentieth Anniversay
When: 27 March 2025
Where: Kings Park
How much: Free
More info: www.rugbyfest.org

Hong Kong Tens
When: 26-27 March, 2025
Where: Hong Kong Football Club
How much: tbc
More info: www.hkfc10s.com

HK Sevens
HK Sevens
Date: 28-30 March 2025
Venue: Kai Tak Stadium
Tickets: $1,950
More info: www.HKsevens.com

Hong Kong Art Week 2026

The art world again focuses on Hong Kong this March with several exhibitions bringing thousands of art pieces from emerging and established artists to the SAR.

As we say each year the old cliche still holds ‘one man or woman’s art is another’s trash’, and you’ll undoubtedly wonder exactly what the attraction of some pieces are – but there’s enough variety that you’ll likely find a few things to discuss, enjoy and perhaps even buy.

Art Basel
Many of the world’s leading modern and contemporary art galleries display paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, prints, photography, film, video, and digital art by thousands of artists.

Art Basel
Date: 26-29 March, 2026
Venue: HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: $12,800, $4,880, $1,240, $990, $740, $680, $480, $350 from HKTicketing
More info:
26 March: 4-8pm
27 March: 2-8pm
28 March: 2–8pm
29 March: 12 noon–6pm

Art Central
Since this event started, we’ve included it here for free. This year, after listing the event in bc‘s event diary, bc received an email from the organiser demanding that we include a photo in the listing of their new (expensively created, no doubt) company logo…

In all the years bc‘s been covering this event, bc have not received a single dollar in advertising support. Not even an email thank-you for the free coverage… Nada.

So in response to their demand, we politely told them to F**k Off. If they want event coverage and logo exposure – pay for it, like they demand that companies do to have their logo associated with their event.

So we apologise to you, dear readers, that the event information isn’t here as you’d expect, but the event organiser doesn’t appear to think your dollars are welcome at their event.

Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財

Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財
All of us here at bc magazine would like to wish our readers, advertisers, and suppliers a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous Year of the Dragon.