Fringe a hard act to follow

THE Hong Kong Fringe Festival is one of the most eagerly awaited events on the territory's cultural calendar, and next January's event might well turn out to be more popular than ever.

We say this in the knowledge that the Fringe Club's programme co-ordinator, Elaine Wong, has been at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival looking to sign up a few innovative acts.

Flicking through a review of the Edinburgh Fringe we read of the ''Jim Rose Circus Sideshow'', which, according to one critic, was ''the most entertaining spectacle since the Spanish Inquisition went into liquidation''.

According to the review, the highlight was (and readers of a gentle disposition are advised to read no further) ''a man lifting heavy objects with his penis''.

We can see the queues forming up outside the Fringe Club in Ice House Street already.

Let's hope Ms Wong doesn't disappoint them.