Organisers came up with the “King of Kings” and “Queen of Queens” titles in 2016, for climbers who secured the championship three times in the men’s or women’s category. No one had won either title before.

None of the female finalists had been champion more than once so they could not win the “Queen of Queens” title this year.

Kung said her experience helped her win.

“I’m glad, because I can take this prize home as a Mother’s Day present for my mom … it took her much effort to bring me up, ” she said, adding that she would join the contest again.

Kwok said the competitors were strong every year and that he planned to take part again in the next event.

The competition has its roots in a ritual started in 1894 to appease the spirits of islanders killed in a plague and was revived in 2005. The event had been banned for 27 years after two bun towers collapsed mid-race in 1978, injuring 24 people.

Some 9,000 plastic buns covered the 14-metre-high bamboo tower. Buns earned the competitors points, with those nearest the top scoring highest. The climber with the highest score within the three-minute time limit was the winner.

Kwok got 112 buns worth 966 points, while Kung got 675 points. Kwok also won the “Full Pockets of Lucky Buns” award for grabbing the most buns.

Chung Ching-man, also a firefighter, was first runner-up while Samuel Wong Kam-man was second runner-up.

Throughout the day, tens of thousands of visitors made their way to the island, all keen to watch the Piu Sik – or “floating colour” – parade in the afternoon and the bun scramble at midnight.

From 8am to 3pm, more than 20,000 passengers had taken a ferry to the island from Central, a 28 per cent jump on last year’s record in the same period, as large crowds continued to pour in, New World First Ferry said.

A total of 60,000 visitors were expected to descend on the island throughout the day, according to the Transport Department.

The Piu Sik parade featured children dressed in traditional costumes and masquerading as famous figures. The children were carried down the island’s main streets on stools.

Five-time champion the big casualty of Cheung Chau bun scrambling qualifiers

Lam’s pet project, Lantau Tomorrow Vision, also got a mention at the parade which included an abacus and a model dolphin, depicting the exorbitant cost and the environmental impact brought by the proposed infrastructure scheme.

The hot weather did not deter visitors as the mercury hit 27 degrees Celsius, in line with the local forecaster’s prediction of sunny periods.

Eric Ho Lai-on, vice-chairman of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, said: “We picked current affairs as our theme to raise public awareness of the recent government failings, like the extradition bill saga. This is what Hongkongers want to see at our parade.”

This year’s event, held annually on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese calender, fell on a Sunday and coincided with Mother’s Day as well as Buddha’s Birthday, followed by a public holiday on Monday.

The long weekend and fine weather boosted the businesses of holiday homes and souvenir shops.

Karen Wong Hoi-lam, a business operator who sells homemade souvenirs, expected a 10 per cent increase in profits.

“The weather is fine unlike last year, when we had heavy rainfall at times. But people might have left town during the three-day break as Monday is a public holiday, or they may choose to celebrate Mother’s Day elsewhere with their family,” she said.

Wong was cautiously optimistic about her sales figures and added: “The government predicted 50,000 to 60,000 visitors, and some people scared of crowds might be kept away by the figure.”

Holiday home owners reported a rosy picture of business rates. Kennis Kwok Ka-yan, who runs a resort chain of 20 houses in Bela Vista Villa and near the pier, said there were no more rooms available for rent on Sunday. Another operator, who gave her name as Yoko, said all her 39 rooms had been booked back in March.

Lukas Chvatal, a City University exchange student from the Czech Republic, visited Cheung Chau for the first time after hearing about the famous floating parade from local friends. “I am here to see the vibrant local culture for myself, the drums, the gongs, the lion dance, they are all unique and special to me.”

Elderly Hongkonger Mrs Fan, who got a spot close to Pak Tai Temple, was eagerly anticipating the afternoon parade with her two daughters and two grandchildren. “I came here very early so I can sit and see the parade from a close distance.”