World Music Day debuts in HK ... and will last for a week

Hong Kong joined the famous Fete de la Musique, or c, for the first time yesterday - an event held simultaneously in 100 countries and 250 cities across the world.

But while the rest of the world partied for only one day, Hong Kong will have six more days - encompassing a wide range of musical forms - until next Tuesday. Organised by the French consulate, Alliance Francaise and the Fringe Club, the event was originally launched in France in 1982.

Fringe Club co-founder Catherine Lau said organisers scheduled the shows outside office hours to cater for as many people as possible.

'Hong Kong people will not give up work to play and have fun in music, so we thought we would be flexible to work around our schedule to fit the Hong Kong crowds,' she said.

The annual event is held every June 21 - the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, when musicians play to celebrate the extended daylight hours.