Category: June

HK Sixes Returns in October

Cricket Hong Kong have announced that after a gap of five years the Hong Kong Sixes will return to the local sporting calendar on the 28-29 October 2017 at Kowloon Cricket Club.

The ‘fastest’ cricket format in the world will see eight international teams participating in matches that take just 45 minutes to complete. The Sixes will also look to take advantage of technology changes as Cricket Hong Kong aims to create a tournament with a distinct identity.

“Everyone in the cricket community here in Hong Kong is delighted to have the Sixes confirmed as being back on our calendar,” Cricket Hong Kong Director Jonathan Cummings said. “We love what the Sixes were and are passionate about bringing the best bits with us, but we won’t be satisfied putting on the same show as in 2012.”

“This will be the Sixes 2.0 and over time, we want to make this the most hi-tech, innovative cricket tournament in the world. The emergence of Twenty20 leagues around the world is great, but this is an opportunity to create a different a experience for cricket lovers and to engage new fans to the sport.”

“It’s a format where we aren’t bound by the traditional rules of the game, so we will be designing everything to provide maximum entertainment value and engagement.” Cummings said.

“We’ve already launched the Junior Cricket Sixes into local schools and we look forward to connecting that programme with the October event. Anyone can enjoy Sixes cricket, lots of big hits and great entertainment with no breaks.”

The Sixes will be held at the Kowloon Cricket Club with KCC President David Brettell commenting that “KCC is in full support of Cricket Hong Kong’s efforts to reinstate the event. We are delighted to welcome back the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes to the KCC and we are excited to be partnering with Cricket Hong Kong in their endeavour to bring a world class sporting event to Hong Kong”.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to Kowloon Cricket Club,” Cummings said. “The venue is perfect for Sixes cricket and they have the experience in providing world class hospitality and service and will host spectators to an outstanding weekend.”

Teams for the event will be confirmed within the next month with a minimum of six full member nations to participate.

HK Cricket Sixes
Date: 28-29 October, 2017
Venue: Kowloon Cricket Club
Tickets: tbc

Additional reporting and image: HK Cricket

Our Sanrio Times, Memories of an Iconic Kitty

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Our-Sanrio-Times-Press-Conference-Studio-City-Macau-21-June/i-VQSKSMr

Is there a company or character that has permeated life more enduringly over the last four decades than Sanrio’s Hello Kitty? Like her or loath her Hello Kitty has endured despite being leveraged and branded across every product under the sun and then some.

Even Disney who’ve created some truly iconic characters must wonder why no amount of over exposure or crass marketing harms the kitty’s appeal. Why is someone willing, for example, to pay a significant premium for an apple with a Hello Kitty sticker on it than exactly the same unstickered apple next to it on the shelf?

A new exhibition in Macau, Our Sanrio Times, will showcase some of Hello Kitty’s and other Sanrio characters merchandising over the last 40 years. There are also several interactive zones. Whether you like it or not will depend on your affection for the brand, but it’s also interesting to see how the types of items have changed over the years. A vintage Hello Kitty letter opener is a stark reminder as to how communication has changed in just the last decade. As is the exhibitions merchandise store full of phone covers.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Our-Sanrio-Times-Press-Conference-Studio-City-Macau-21-June/i-F8WsTfT

Our Sanrio Times
Date: 28 July-3 September, 2017
Venue: Studio City, Macau
Tickets: $150

Spirits Pairing Event @ Park Lane Hotel – 24 June, 2017

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Spirits-Pairing-Event-Park-Lane-Hotel-24-June-2017/i-XLr6nF5

A spirits pairing and tasting event at the Park Lane Hotel on the 24 June included masterclasses, cocktails and even cigars with instruction and advice on mixing, pairing and enjoying a wide range of spirits.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Spirits-Pairing-Event-Park-Lane-Hotel-24-June-2017/i-s7RrcXp

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Spirits-Pairing-Event-Park-Lane-Hotel-24-June-2017/i-wvn6Fb4

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Spirits-Pairing-Event-Park-Lane-Hotel-24-June-2017/i-tnHP92T

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Spirits-Pairing-Event-Park-Lane-Hotel-24-June-2017/i-MRbzX82

Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 Bid, Community Reception @ PMQ – 21 June, 2017

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Gay-Games-Hong-Kong-2022-Bid-Community-Reception-PMQ-21-June/i-s5F2z4Q

Over 300 people turned up at the Gay Games HK 2022 Community Reception, the final event of the bid inspection visit by the games organisers. Hong Kong is vying with Washington and Guadalajara to host the 2022 games, the host city will be announced in November.

Read more information about the games bid at www.gaygameshk2022.com
Click on any photo to see the full image gallery.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Gay-Games-Hong-Kong-2022-Bid-Community-Reception-PMQ-21-June/i-gC8xwLM

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Gay-Games-Hong-Kong-2022-Bid-Community-Reception-PMQ-21-June/i-FVQRTx7

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Gay-Games-Hong-Kong-2022-Bid-Community-Reception-PMQ-21-June/i-VN6MN4d

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Gay-Games-Hong-Kong-2022-Bid-Community-Reception-PMQ-21-June/i-cFgbZhC

Snooker Masters

The eight player Hong Kong Masters takes place on the 20-23 July at Queen Elizabeth Stadium and features current World Champion and World no.1 Mark Selby, former multiple World Champions Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins as well as local hero Marco Fu.

There will also be a series of exhibition frames between Ladies World Champion Ng On Yee and two legends of the game Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White.

The Masters returns to Hong Kong after a decade with total prize money of GBP315,000 and is sanctioned by World Snooker. The tournament will follow the standard knockout format with the final taking place on the 23 July.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Hong-Kong-Masters-Snooker-Press-Conference-19-June-2017/n-rVtZg8/i-6KjDqRZ

Quite why in a game where sex should be irrelevant Ng On Yee can’t compete against the men is a question no one will properly answer. Danny Mak Chairman of the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council said it was because men are “Better able to handle the mental and physical strain”. Ng On Yee offered that it was more about competition and opportunity “You can only beat the best if you get the opportunity to play, but hopefully that will improve in the future”.

Hong Kong Masters
Date: 20-23 July, 2017
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Stadium
Tickets: $450, $300, $200, $150, $100 from Urbtix

Surface Family Available in Microsoft’s HK Online Store

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Microsoft-Surface-Press-Conference-June-2017/i-nR8phZv

It’s been 18 months since the last real Microsoft Surface launch, a lifetime in computing terms. So what’s new? Pretty much everything, the Surface family now features four product lines: Surface Studio; Surface Book; Surface Pro and Surface Laptop all of which include a touchscreen and pen input.

Microsoft’s Hong Kong General Manager Horace Chow was upbeat and confident about the new Surface range of products with several digs at ipads and macbooks during his presentation. Will the new Surface machines attract Mac users – it will be interesting to see.

The rather lovely looking Surface Studio is a beautiful high resolution 28 inch touchscreen on a massive hinge which can stand vertically, lie completely flat or anywhere inbetween. Prices start from $24,888

The Surface Book is Microsoft’s top end laptop released in 2015 and updated last year, version 2 was expected to be released this month but has been delayed. It features a detachable 13.5 inch screen, separate graphics processor and ‘proper’ keyboard. Prices start from $11,588

The Surface Pro is a powerful laptop with a 12.3 inch touchscreen, back stand and an Alcantara fabric keyboard. The press release claims 14 hours of battery, life more than enough for a full day’s work. Prices start from $6,988

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Microsoft-Surface-Press-Conference-June-2017/i-8tXCR3P

The thin light Surface Laptop has a 13.5inch gorilla glass touchscreen and an Alcantara fabric keyboard and comes in four colours: platinum, graphite gold, cobalt blue and burgundy. Sadly the colour options are only available in a specific configuration. Prices start from $7,888.

Confusingly all four lines are sold with different versions of Windows, although it appears you can upgrade to Windows Pro free of charge until the end of 2017.

What to buy? There are now so many different chip sets, generations and numbers that it’s easy to become confused as to what to buy. Unlike a decade ago where the difference between generations of  Intel chips was massive, the differences in use for most everyday tasks will be barely noticeable. So unless your doing heavy number crunching or video encoding then choose the one that feels good to use with as much storage and ram as you can afford at www.microsoftstore.com.hk.

16 June 2017: Edited to reflect that the different colour Surface laptops are available in Hong Kong.

Portuguese Speaking Countries Promotion @ Club Lusitano – 14 June, 2017

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Portuguese-Speaking-Countries-Promotion-Club-Lusitano-14/i-3KTvhnR

Portuguese Speaking Countries Promotion @ Club Lusitano organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) to raise awareness of food products from across the lusophone world. Many of which can be found at the Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) Food Products Exhibition Centre in Macau.
Click on any photo for the full gallery

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Portuguese-Speaking-Countries-Promotion-Club-Lusitano-14/i-3SMmKDV

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Portuguese-Speaking-Countries-Promotion-Club-Lusitano-14/i-gJZZQ55

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Portuguese-Speaking-Countries-Promotion-Club-Lusitano-14/i-WxjKdnp

Pizza Express Cook Off 2

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Pizza-Express-Cook-Off-2-Empire-Centre-6-June-2017/i-7k76tdC

Pizza Express have opened a new outlet at Empire Centre in TST East. The ground floor restaurant is also one the five participating in Pizza Express Cook Off 2. A vegetarian palate buster between Wan Veggie Mom’s Christine Cheng and PE’s Product Development Manager Sophia Cheung using vegetarian ‘fake’ meat.

Christine’s creation Beyond Burger Beef & Fig Pizza ($138) is a beautiful looking vibrant purple as she used beetroot sauce instead of the traditional tomato. Topped with buffalo mozzarella, ricotta cheese and crumbled marinated Beyond burger beef. The beetroot sauce was a little too salty but the combination of fig, beetroot and cheese on a thin crust was good. The fake burger meat added little beyond texture and the pizza would have been just as nice without it.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Pizza-Express-Cook-Off-2-Empire-Centre-6-June-2017/i-38Vvrrb

Sophia chose a rectangular shape for her Beyond Chicken & Kale Pesto Pizza ($138) which was loaded with fake chicken, ricotta cheese, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, kale chips with a pesto sauce. There was little to no ‘chicken’ taste from the fake meat, but the pizza was full of texture and flavour.

Both chef’s have created interesting visually attractive and tasty pizzas that offer something new and different from Pizza Express’ regular menu. The vegetarian ‘meat’ did little for either pizza, and personally I would love to taste both with real meat. You can try the ladies Cook Off pizzas, and vote for your favourite, from 13 June at these Pizza Express outlets: Empire Centre, Wing Fung Street, Wellington Street, Mira Place and Airport.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Pizza-Express-Cook-Off-2-Empire-Centre-6-June-2017/i-W9ttTM4