Category: March

Hong Kong Cricket All-Stars 2021

The Cricket Hong Kong (CHK) All-Stars Series postponed from last December will now take place later this month at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon. Thirty-six cricketers from across the region have been split into three teams, each of which represents a major district of Hong Kong.

The Kowloon Lions, Hong Kong’s most populous district in the shadow of Lion Rock, will be lead by current Hong Kong skipper Aizaz Khan. While current HK vice-captain Kinchit Shah will lead New Territories Tigers named after the wild tigers that used to roam the area.

Former HK captain Jamie Atkinson will lead the Hong Kong Islanders, home to many of Hong Kong’s distinctive landmarks. The three teams will play each other once in a single round-robin stage, with the top 2 sides playing each other in a Final.

All-Stars Squads

Kowloon Lions: Aizaz Khan (Captain), Zeeshan Ali (Wicketkeeper), Nizakat Khan, Hamed Khan, Ehsan Ayaz, Jack Metters, Mehran Zeb, Dan Pascoe, Dhananjay Rao, Ahan Trivedi, Gandeep Sandhu, Charlie Wallis

New Territories Tigers: Kinchit Shah (Captain), Adit Gorawara (Wicketkeeper), Babar Hayat, Wajid Shah, Akbar Khan, Daniyal Bukhari, Aftab Hussain, Ashley Caddy, Bilal Akhtar, Sheryar Khan, Mohammad Hassan Khan, Ateeq Iqbal

Hong Kong Islanders: Jamie Atkinson (Captain, Wicketkeeper), Umar Mohammad, Ninad Shah, Waqas Khan, Haroon Arshad, Simandeep Singh, Zakir Hayat, Ehsan Khan, Mohammad Waheed, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Ayush Shukla, Mohsin Khan

All-Stars T20 Series

The T20 series will see all three teams compete across 2 days, playing 3 round-robin matches followed by a winner takes all final.

The 50 over competition will see the teams re-drafted with the Hong Kong Islanders taking on the Kowloon Lions in a best of 3 series.

Friday 26th March

9:30am: Kowloon Lions vs New Territories Tigers

1:30pm: Hong Kong Islanders vs Kowloon Lions

Saturday 27th March

9:30am: New Territories Tigers vs Hong Kong Islanders

1:30pm: FINAL

All games played at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon.

The T20 series will be followed by a 3-Match ODI Series between the Kowloon Lions and Hong Kong Islanders.

All games will be screened live and free on Youtube

New Quarantine Hotel List Announced: 21 April – 19 June, 2021

An updated list of 30 designated quarantine hotels for the period 21 April – 19 June 2021 (third cycle) was released today.

The list of designated hotels in the third cycle and related details such as room rates have been uploaded to www.designatedhotel.gov.hk.

Or download the pdf here

Central and Western District
1. Best Western Plus Hotel Hong Kong
2. CM+ Hotels & Serviced Apartments
3. Grand City Hotel
4. JEN Hong Kong by Shangri-La
5. Lan Kwai Fong Hotel @ Kau U Fong
6. One-Eight-One Hotel & Serviced Residences
7. Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View
8. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental

Hong Kong Eastern District
1. Ramada Hong Kong Grand View

Islands District
1. Four Points by Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung
2. Regal Airport Hotel

Kowloon City District
1. Bridal Tea House Hotel Hung Hom Gillies Avenue South
2. iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel
3. Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong
4. Metropark Hotel Kowloon Hong Kong
5. Regal Oriental Hotel

Kwai Tsing District
1. Dorsett Tsuen Wan,

Hong Kong Southern District
1. Nina Hotel Island South (Formerly L’hotel Island South)
2. Ovolo Southside

Tsuen Wan District
1. Silka Far East Hotel Hong Kong

Wan Chai District
1. Best Western Hotel Causeway Bay
2. Dorsett Wanchai Hong Kong
3. Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island
4. Mira Moon Hotel
5. Vela Boutique Hotel

Wong Tai Sin District
1. Pentahotel Hong Kong,

Kowloon Yau Tsim Mong District
1. Bridal Tea House Hotel Yau Ma Tei Wing Sing Lane
2. Dorsett Mongkok Hong Kong
3. Ramada Hong Kong Grand
4. Silka Seaview Hotel Hong Kong

Do Not Split Wins Norwegian Award

The Oscar-nominated documentary Do Not Split about the 2019 Anti Extradition protests has won Video Documentary of the Year in Norway and it’s director/cameraman Anders Hammer is Video Journalist of the Year.

The jury’s reasoning: In the documentary «Do not split», Anders Hammer takes us into the streets of Hong Kong and gives us a unique insight into the uprising against the authorities that unfolded in 2019. Through Hammer’s proximity to the sources, we get to feel on the body what it’s like to be young student in Hong Kong and be afraid of losing key human rights when new bills are to be passed. His brave and well-planned working methodology, as well as his excellent presence with a camera, is remarkable.

Unfolding across a year and filmed from within the heart of the 2019 protests, Anders Hammer’s Do Not Split captures the determination and sacrifices of the protesters, the government’s backlash, and the passage of the new National Security Law.

The film’s title is a reference to the Cantonese phrase 不割席 that roughly translates as “Do not split, do not divide, do not snitch on others.” The phrase emphasizes unity among the protesters, reminding Hongkongers in both the peaceful and more radical camps that they are fighting for the same cause.

Hammer commented “I tried to move in flow with the development in the demonstrations, which were very unpredictable. There were large and small demonstrations all the time, and the demonstrators rarely had an idea of ​​where the actions would end. Sometimes it was over before it had started because the police came and scared people away.”

“Then there could be street fights and long cat and mouse sessions,” Hammer added “There was a lot of evening and night work, and it was extremely unpredictable, but there was an insane energy among the protesters. It was incredibly fascinating to see.”

The documentary is largely divided into individual sequences, which show different parts of the protests. It follows several people, and much takes place in the center of the demonstrations.

“I have thought that the documentary will reflect and do what happened justice, at the same time as it gives a greater insight into the political and human” said Hammer.

Watch fieldofvision.org/do-not-split

The Oscars take place on 25 April.

HKTB Releases Visitor Arrival Details for February 2021

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has released the visitor arrivals data for February 2021, there were approximately 5,500 (3,799 from the mainland, 1,696 non-mainland) a 97.2% drop year on year.

The HKTB noted that the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism in Hong Kong began at about the same time last year, with monthly visitor arrivals dropping from 3.2 million in January 2020 to 200,000 in February 2020.

In the coming months as the visitor arrivals base in the comparable period, last year decreases significantly, the year-on-year decline in monthly visitor arrivals to Hong Kong will appear to narrow.

Virgin Vacation Release Eponymous Debut EP

Virgin Vacation, an instrumental quartet that blend math rock, improvisation jazz, krautrock and electronic beats, have released their eponymous debut EP on cassette, vinyl and digital formats – available from Bandcamp

The EP kicks off with a sound collage of a woman’s voice dispassionately recounting events related to the Hong Kong protests—before being crowded out by multiple copies of itself and a rising drone, reflecting the overwhelming news cycle in the city.

Independent comic book artist Lai Tat Tat Wing illustrates provides the EP’s cover art.

Track listing
Side A
1. Acid Rain
2. 5 Step

Side B
3. Third Eye
4. Voices

All Songs Written & Arranged by 假日貞操 Virgin Vacation

Legoland Opens

Hong Kong’s first indoor Lego playground, Legoland Discovery Centre, opened on 6 March offering an indoor playground for families and young at heart adults.

The 30,000 square foot space features 10 Lego-themed play areas including Kingdom Quest, Miniland, Lego Friends, Master Builder Classroom, Duplo Farm, Magic Bikes, Lego Races: Build & Test, 4D Cinema, as well as a Café and a Lego shop.

Merlin Entertainments’ Asia Pacific New Openings Director Ben Sweet said, “The success of Madame Tussauds Hong Kong has given the company faith in the Hong Kong market. Despite the pandemic, we still decided to bring Legoland Discovery Centre to the city.”

Legoland Discovery Centre
Daily tickets cost $240 with annual passes from $799
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-8pm; Sat-Sun 10am-9pm
Address: Shop B131-133, B1, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Sad Day – UA Cinemas Shuts Down

A sad day, many fine films and good nights out.

“UA Cinemas has always been committed to providing the highest quality of cinematic entertainment to all audiences in Hong Kong since it was founded in 1985 by Mr. Ira Kaye. However, we regret to announce that UA Cinemas will cease business with immediate effect from 8 March 2021 due to unavoidable and devastating pressure faced by our operations since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

We would like to thank our customers, colleagues and business partners for their support with UA Cinemas over the past 36 years. Thank-you everyone for taking the journey with us.”

Remark: To comply with the statute and to protect the interests of all stakeholders, UA Cinemas has commenced winding up proceedings with the Hong Kong court. For any enquiries, please call 3104-1777 or 3104-1779 for assistance.

Rugby World Cup France 2023 Tickets Go On Sale

Tickets for Rugby World Cup 2023 will go on sale from 15 March, 2021 at 12:00 CET after the France 2023 organising committee announced details of the tournament’s ticketing programme. A total of 2.6 million tickets will be available for the 10th edition of the men’s event which kicks off on 8 September, 2023.

Tickets will go on sale through a phased process from 15 March, 2021 at tickets.rugbyworldcup.com  – with an exclusive pre-sale period for fans who have registered to join the 2023 Family by 23:59 CET on 13 March. During the ‘pre-sale period’, which runs until 5 April, fans will be able to purchase Follow my Team and City packs on a first-come, first-served basis, which will enable them to choose to attend a team’s pool phase matches or all the pool phase matches at a match venue.

General sales for Follow My Team and City packs will open on 6 April, 2021 at 18:00 CET with packages starting at 58€ for the Toulouse City Pack (Category 4). Ticket-inclusive Official Travel and Hospitality sales will commence on 18 March, 2021.

The ticket launch follows the announcement last week of the match schedule which features an extended pool phase to allow longer recovery periods for the players. Rugby World Cup 2023 will be played across 10 host cities and nine stadiums.

Tickets by Team or by City?

In the ‘pre-sale’ phase from 15 March, tickets will only be sold in two formats, either by city or by team.

The Follow My Team pack includes all four pool matches from a qualified team, with the possibility to add an optional quarter-final should the team makes it to the knockout phase. Twelve Follow My Team packs will be available, one for each qualified nation.

The City Pack includes either three or all pool matches in each of the nine host cities. In the ‘three matches’ format, fans will need to select two fixtures in addition to one compulsory. Only the opening match won’t be available in this format.

In the comprehensive ‘all matches’ City pack, fans will be able to attend all pool matches in the host city of their choice, except for Saint-Denis (Stade de France).

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby World Cup France 2023 will showcase the best of rugby and the best of France and we are delighted to launch the tournament’s ticketing programme. Our ambition, in partnership with our friends at the France 2023 organising committee, is to make France 2023 the most accessible tournament to date. This ticketing programme certainly does that. Everyone is invited to join a special celebration of France and 200 years of rugby.”

France 2023 Organising Committee CEO, Claude Atcher added: “With our ticketing programme, we want to make Rugby World Cup 2023 as accessible as possible for everyone and provide the opportunity for French and international fans to attend matches from the best 20 rugby nations in the world. ”

Key Ticket Sales Dates
  • 13 March at 23:59 CET: Registration closes for the 2023 Family
  • 15 March at 12:00 CET: 2023 Family pre-sale opens for City and Team packs
  • 18 March: Launch of Official Travel and Hospitality sales programmes
  • 6 April at 18:00 CET: General sale opens for City and Team Packs
  • 2022: Individual match tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis

Additional reporting and images: World Rugby