‘Keung To Bay’? Thousands gather in Hong Kong shopping hub to celebrate Mirror heart throb’s 23rd birthday, but health expert warns of Covid-19 infection risks
- Causeway Bay area brimming with fans decked out in club attire as followers splurge on free tram rides for all to answer star’s call for charitable work
- Health expert Dr Leung Chi-chiu says risk of infection could increase if people did not wear their masks properly and crowds engaged in shouting and cheering
Most of the attention was centred on a lone eastbound tram – or ding ding as they are affectionately known in the city – on Hennessy Road lavishly emblazoned with Keung’s photos and well wishes for his 23rd birthday.
Even though the city’s fifth Covid-19 wave had slowed down, respiratory expert Dr Leung Chi-chiu said he was worried that such gatherings would pose infection risks. He added that the risk could increase if people did not wear their masks properly and crowds engaged in shouting and cheering.
“If it causes an outbreak in the community, it will definitely affect the overall arrangement of loosening social-distancing measures,” Leung said, adding that Causeway Bay was inundated with fans.
In response to queries from the Post, a police spokesman said officers conducted an operation in Causeway Bay to remind residents to follow social-distancing rules and avoid gathering in public. No fines were issued, he added.
Scores of police were seen maintaining order as fans waved and shouted at the flagship vehicle travelling between Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay. The star himself, a member of popular local boy band Mirror, was not on board.
Responding to Keung’s call to engage in more charitable work, members of the Keung Show HK Fan Club splurged to sponsor free tram rides for all on Saturday. It is not yet known how much they spent.
The cost of covering free tram rides for a day could be about HK$2 million (US$254,860), according to sources familiar with the sponsorship.
Keung is among the 12-member Mirror, which rose to fame in 2018 after they were assembled from contestants in ViuTV’s reality talent programme Good Night Show – King Maker. The band triggered a revival of interest in Canto-pop.
In Causeway Bay, dubbed “Keung To Bay” thanks to numerous Keung billboards lining building facades, supporters of the star were seen on Saturday decked out in fan club attire and taking photos while holding stuffed toys in their idol’s likeness. Some fans were busy giving away posters and pins to promote the singer.
One fan, who distributed postcards, asked supporters not to surround her, possibly trying to avoid being charged with violating social-distancing measures.
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Candy Lau, a 60-year-old fan, set off at dawn from Lau Fau Shan in Yuen Long and arrived at Causeway Bay at 7am hoping to spend as much time as possible to celebrate her idol’s birthday. She said she would wait patiently for the tram decorated with Keung’s birthday wishes.
“I have paid four-digits for his birthday activities. I agree making donations is better than sending gifts. Keung To wants to do more charity work so we respect our super idol’s view,” Lau said.
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Milk Lo, 43, came to Causeway Bay with her eight-year-old daughter to celebrate her idol’s special day and her own birthday.
“The fan club’s birthday activities can bring more people out on the streets. It can bring positive vibes to the city and revitalise the economy when people eat and shop,” Lo said.
One of Keung’s fans, who called herself Ho, planned to stay at “Keung To Bay” throughout to take photos with billboards at different times of the day.
“I will randomly hop on any tram to take photos of billboards [from different angles]. I will then wait for Keung’s tram to shoot another round of photos,” Ho said.
