Hong Kong Refugee Week 2023

The theme for the second Hong Kong Refugee Week, 19-25 June, is compassion and throughout June different NGOs, independent projects and refugee artists celebrate what compassion looks like in action through a program of arts, cultural and educational events.

Refugee Week, an annual open-source festival each June, celebrates the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking asylum. Founded in 1998 it’s held every year around World Refugee Day (20 June).

Refugee Week’s vision is for refugees and asylum seekers to be able to live safely within inclusive and resilient communities, where they can continue to make a valuable contribution.

HK Refugee Week 2023 schedule

Refugee Week Hong Kong 2023 participating organisations include Grassroots Future, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Hong Kong (UNHCR HK), Justice Centre Hong Kong, Hope, RUN Hong Kong, Youth Global Network.

Refugee Week
Date: 19-25 June, 2023
Venue: Various
More info: @refugeeweekHK

HKSAR 25th Anniversary Sailing Cup @ Hebe Haven Yacht Club

The third and final race of the HKSAR 25th Anniversary Sailing Cup was hosted by the Hebe Haven Yacht Club on Saturday, the 25th of June 2022.

Glorious sailing conditions saw 92 boats excited to enjoy the blue skies and a steady 11-knot south-southwester breeze. The course saw the various fleets beating out to the South Nine Pins across to East Nine Pins followed by a run to Bluff, a reach to Table before finishing at Little Palm Beach, a total of 15 nautical miles.

Organised by the Hong Kong Sailing Federation the HKSAR 25th Anniversary Sailing Cup comprised three races organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (Saturday 11 June 2022), the Aberdeen Boat Club (Sunday 19 June 2022), and the Hebe Haven Yacht Club (Saturday 25 June 2022).

HKSAR 25th Anniversary Sailing Cup Results

HKPN Handicap System (70 Entries)
1: HKG201 – Minnie the Moocher (18.21)
2: HKG2569 – Triple A (21.75)
3: HKG2092 – Pepper and Salt (25.90)

IRC/HKATI Handicap System (23 Entries)
1: HKG2559 – Juice (21.3)
2: HKG2283 – Freefire (22.9)
3: HKG696 – Team Victory (36.8)

More photos, by Takumi Photography, can be found here

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220625-HKSAR-25th-Anniversary-Sailing-Cup-Hebe-Haven/i-LNDth7b

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images: Pandaman, Takumi photography

Hong Kong Women Win Asian Games Qualifier

Hong Kong Women’s Field Hockey Team won the Women’s Asian Games  Qualifier in Jakarta to qualify for the upcoming Asian  Games. Hong Kong won 5 of its six matches, conceding just one goal.

The team, coached by Arif Ali, were playing in their first tournament after a two-and-a-half-year covid imposed break.  “Victories aren’t born on the field. You create them during practice even in difficult times and our ladies have proven that” said Ali.  

Co-Captain Evelyn Cheung with 7 goals was the tournament’s top goal scorer.

Women’s Asian Games hockey Qualifier 2022

Evelyn Cheung (Cheung Evelyn Hok Yee)

Covid Test Needed to Enter Bars & Clubs

From today you will need a negative RAT test to enter local bars and clubs.

“Patrons are required to present proof of a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result obtained within 24 hours before entering bars, pubs, clubs or nightclubs from June 16 to 29” announced Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan.

According to the government announcement, customers will need to show a photo of the RAT device with their name, testing date and time written on it as proof of taking the test – before they can enter.

Local illustrator surrealhk perfectly captures the new rule.

Cod-licious – The Chippy, Granville Food Square, TST

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away… Ok, it was Chater Garden in 2015 – but today in twenty twenty-two it feels like a different time and place – an Englishman frustrated at the quality of fish and chips found locally imported a complete fish and chip shop, The Chippy, from Derby.

A bit extreme perhaps, but the massive queues and smiling faces at the Best of British pop-up event proved he wasn’t the only frustrated Hong Kong diner yearning for quality fish and chips. At the end of the week-long festival, the Englishman said he hoped to open a permanent version of The Chippy soon…

Is ‘seven years’ soon? I’m not sure, but the newly opened ‘The Chippy’ in Tsim Sha Tsui certainly scratches an itch. Crispy battered succulent Icelandic cod served on a bed of hot chips – simply delicious!

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220611-The-Chippy-Tsim-Sha-Tsui/i-2jDK4tR

And yes you will want to Instagram your beautiful-looking meal, but do it quickly so you can enjoy the freshly prepared meal hot. There are two sizes of cod; the Signature a 10-12oz fillet ($188) and a regular (5-6oz fillet, $108) served in a “Cod Save the Queen” Chippy Box full of plump English chips.

The Granville Food Square location seats around 60 and as well as fish the menu includes battered jumbo sausages, Pukka pies, mushy peas, curry sauce and proper gravy – all imported from Derby. Cold beer and drinks are also available in the food court and delivery options will be added soon.

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The Chippy – Tsim Sha Tsui
Granville Food Square, 46-48 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel:
Opening Hours: 11am til late

This is my Home – John Laudon

This is my Home

Music and lyrics by John Laudon
Backing vocals by Michael Luk and Renee Chan
Video edited by [email protected]

People mountain, people sea
soaring towers and crowded streets
from the harbour to the mountain peaks
This is a city truly unique

I have lived here since eighty-five
through the sunshine, and through hard times
but it holds me, like a love that’s torn
that will stand strong through every storm

Chorus:
I’ve climbed the mountains
I’ve walked these streets
this town this village that never sleeps
So many faces both young and old
This fragrant harbour
this is my home

This is a city that’s a sea of lights
it still shines on through the darkest night
just like a candle an eternal flame
I know this city has called my name

Chorus:
I’ve climbed the mountains
I’ve walked these streets
this town this village that never sleeps
So many faces both young and old
This fragrant harbour
this is my home

Bridge: We’re filled with hopes and dreams
to live our lives in joy and peace
I will stay here I will not go
Because I’m proud to call this place my home
This is my home

Chorus:
I’ve climbed the mountains
I’ve walked these streets
this town this village that never sleeps
So many faces both young and old
This fragrant harbour
this is my home

through the good times, and through the pain,
through the sunshine and through the rain
this is the home where we belong
And I have faith we will stand strong
Yes I have faith in my Hong Kong

Vegetarian Fish and Chips at Chip In

Recently Chip In a local social conscious fish and chip chain sent bc an invite to try their new vegetarian fish and chips. Intrigued, a Saturday afternoon visit to their branch in The Vantage at Hung Hom was arranged.

In all honesty, we weren’t expecting much, if you want to eat fish (or meat) then, at the moment, nothing matches the real thing for flavour or texture.
And the same is true with ‘vegetarian’ fish, in a direct comparison – really there is no comparison – to cod the beautiful flaky white pieces of cod are delicious. And ‘fish and chips’ is really cod and chips, nothing else is better battered and deep-fried to a golden hue.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220514-Vegetarian-Fish-Chips-Chip-In/i-TGRrx9D

That said if you don’t try to compare it to the real thing, the vegetarian soy product is not that bad. It has a reasonable texture and flavour, if a little salty, and it holds the batter well.

And for dessert, there are Chip In’s unique deep-fried Oreo cookies, sweet chewy and delicious!

If your vegetarian friends have been keeping you away from your local fish and chip shop, then invite them along to Chip In in Sai Kung or Hung Hom and everyone will be happy.

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Chip In:  Sai Kung
Shop 11, G/F, 9 King Man Street,
Sai Kung, Hong Kong.
Tel: 6418 6575
Opening Hours: 11am – 7:30pm

Chip In: Hung Hom
Unit 28, G/F The Vantage, 63 Ma Tau Wai Road,
Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
Tel: 9452 3373
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm

Tian’anmen Square Vigil – 4 June, 2022

Today we honour and remember those who died in and around Tian’anmen Square in 1989.

We take time to light a candle in their memory! Not to make a political statement but because honouring and remembering those who have died is an important and integral part of Hong Kong, Chinese and yes English culture.

That some would threaten violence towards those who wish to remember the dead says far more about them than us… What next, will Ching Ming Festival be banned as well?