Free Hong Kong harbourside concerts start with splash, but some say floating stage too far away
- Thousands snap up free tickets for first Harbour Chill Carnival concert, but some spectators had to climb on barriers to see stage
- Concert weekend is first of five organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board to cheer up city and entertain visitors
Thousands of music lovers descended on Hong Kong’s Wan Chai waterfront on Saturday night to enjoy the start of the HK$40 million Harbour Chill Carnival, part of a five-weekend programme organised by the government to cheer up the city.
But, because the stage was set up on a barge offshore, only people standing in the front rows could see the performers and dozens of fans climbed onto barriers to get a clear view of the concert, which was kicked off by Cantopop singer Kelly Chen Wai-lam.
Becca Shi, a 23-year-old visitor from Shenzhen, took a day trip to the city to see her idol Chen perform.
She tried to book a ticket online after learning about the event on Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like social media platform in mainland China, but was unsuccessful.
She said, however, that a friend had managed to secure two tickets.
“The vibe here is great, full of passion and energy. Kelly Chen is part of my childhood,” she explained. “But the stage is really far away from the spectator stand.”
Bee Tsang, a Hong Kong resident in his 40s, who took in the concert with a friend, said the experience was a disappointment and he wanted to leave soon after arrival.
“It is such a shame that Hong Kong calls itself an international city, but organises a concert of such quality,” Tsang, who works in finance, said.
“We had to walk a long way to this area in the heat … and we could barely see the stage with the barge lower than eye level.”
Tsang said the organiser should have chosen the Central Harbourfront or other well-equipped government-run sites to hold the concert.
Hong Kong fans snap up 14,000 free tickets in minutes for Harbour Chill Carnival
The first of 10 free concerts over five weekends from Saturday also featured the all-girl group Lolly Talk and boy band Nowhere Boys.
Hong Kong’s Jason Chan Pak-yu and Taiwanese singer Hush were part of the second half of the event.
Concertgoers thronged the waterfront concert zone about half an hour before the concert began, some holding neon sign boards to show support for their idols.
The 14,000 free tickets for the first two concert weekends, July 8-9 and 15-16, were snatched up inside half an hour last Tuesday.
People unable to get tickets could still enjoy the show on a massive screen next to Wan Chai Pier, which live-streamed the event.
Hundreds gathered in the screen area to watch the show and enjoyed snacks and drinks from the six food stalls set up for the carnival.
Hongkongers invited to chill with Tyson Yoshi at HK$40 million harbour carnival
Street performances, including acrobatics, dancing, X-games, skateboarding and kung fu arts, were also held next to the pier.
Hong Kong elite skateboarder Luk Chun-yin was one of the performers at the pier.
“It felt great to perform here. This is a rare chance to skateboard in the busy city centre and engage with the public,” he said.
“This activity also allows me to exchange ideas with overseas athletes, and further promote skateboarding culture.”
The carnival series, organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, will continue for the next four weekends along the harbourside from Golden Bauhinia Square to the Cross Harbour Tunnel, with more acts scheduled to take part.
