Opinion | Good vibes or bad, Hong Kong must first get the basics right

The fanfare over the launch of ‘Night Vibes Hong Kong’ did not prevent the Wan Chai night bazaar tripping up over something as basic as steady power supply

Unless the city gets to grips with the fundamental obstacles impeding its growth and happiness, feel-good campaigns will provide only a temporary boost

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An aerial view of workers clearing a landslide on a closed road leading to the coastal villages of Shek O and Big Wave Bay in Hong Kong on September 9. The flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain last month exposed problems with the city’s drainage system and emergency response that we must solve in preparation for the next big storm. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:30am, 2 Oct 2023

The return of the Tai Hang fire dragon dance and the National Day fireworks after their enforced cancellation during the Covid-19 pandemic was glorious. The fire dragon dance, in particular, bore special significance, since the ritual is believed to have been first performed in Tai Hang village in 1880 by Hakka residents to ward off a plague. It’s truly a sight to be seen – a full sensory feast to be experienced in person.

The 67-metre dragon is woven from rattan, rope and straw and fitted with some 12,000 incense sticks. Held up by around 300 people, it weaves its way through the streets and alleys of Tai Hang for three nights every year in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The dance has been included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2011. Hopefully, its return this year marked the end of the city’s Covid-induced woes, at least symbolically.

The government is smart to have made this festive double bill over our long weekend a star attraction of its “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign, designed to encourage residents to head out at night and revive the city’s once vibrant nightlife. Unfortunately, the Wan Chai waterfront night market that is part of the campaign didn’t run very smoothly.

Vendors had responded enthusiastically to the government’s call to liven up our waterfront promenades, and the Wan Chai bazaar featured some 90 stalls offering a variety of popular snacks. It would have been a great lead-up to the holiday weekend, if not for the interruptions in the power supply on its first day.

The power failures were unbelievable. Not only did they leave some vendors unable to serve hot dishes, some stalls could not even receive electronic payments. Whatever officials had planned in their air-conditioned offices, it would not be able to materialise if their execution failed. A fumble like this is unacceptable.