Hong Kong handover 20th anniversary: Celebrations - South China Morning Post

How a show with HK$500m worth of Chinese ink paintings can restore the art to former glory

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 07:00:45 +0000

One of the world’s largest exhibitions of Chinese ink paintings will be held in Hong Kong on Friday, with an ambitious mission by its curator to redraw the landscape of the Chinese art world and restore the genre to its former glory. The works of renowned painters Wong Wing-yuk, 93, and Chinese culture scholar Professor Jao Tsung-i will be among some 500 pieces on show at Ink Global 2017 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. It will be the largest display of Chinese ink paintings ever staged...

Hong Kong pupils set world record for biggest 3D printed sculpture display

Sun, 16 Jul 2017 12:03:35 +0000

Hong Kong secondary school pupils have set a Guinness World Record for the largest display of a 3D-printed sculpture with a giant model of the harbourfront. The 35 square metre creation comprises 1,214 3D-printed items and was made as part of the continuing 20th anniversary celebrations of the city’s return to Chinese rule. Some 1,236 students from 123 secondary schools took part in the competition, organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council. There were 236 entries with the top four...

Top four places in Hong Kong to view Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning – without tickets

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 05:22:37 +0000

As the massive Liaoning warship made its maiden call in Hong Kong on Friday morning, many early bird visitors and residents along the southern coast got a look – from afar – at the pride of China’s navy. Liaoning: everything you need to know about China’s first aircraft carrier The port call marks the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover from British to Chinese rule, and 2,000 lucky people got tickets to board the aircraft carrier in the next two days, while the city’s dignitaries were also...

In pictures: Hong Kong rolls out red carpet for Liaoning aircraft carrier and accompanying warships

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 03:26:08 +0000

Two destroyers and a frigate from the battle group led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier were given a red-carpet welcome by Hong Kong’s top officials Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung at the People’s Liberation Army’s base on Stonecutters Island. The CNS Liaoning sailed into Hong Kong waters, its first port call in the city, at about 7am on Friday to mark the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule. Liaoning: everything you...

Photo rules relaxed on Liaoning as senior officials among first guests invited onto Chinese aircraft carrier during its Hong Kong visit

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 23:30:00 +0000

As dusk fell over Hong Kong on Friday, the first guests were taken aboard the Liaoning, China’s first operational aircraft carrier that is berthed off southern Tsing Yi. Among those invited were more than 400 guests from military, political and business circles. They were hosted by the Liaoning’s commander, Rear Admiral Ding Yi. Liaoning: everything you need to know about China’s first aircraft carrier Almost all senior Hong Kong government officials led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, former...

Ann Hui digs up Hong Kong’s wartime past for Our Time Will Come – and finds controversy wherever she looks

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 09:30:45 +0000

With the imminent release of her new film Our Time Will Come, the celebrated Hong Kong director Ann Hui On-wah is attracting all the attention she’d prefer to avoid. Watch: Ann Hui on the spark behind wartime film ‘Our Time Will Come’ It is hard enough to work under the pressure that has mounted since she won both the best picture and best director prizes – among a litany of other accolades – at the Hong Kong Film Awards for her last two films, 2011’s A Simple Life and 2014’s The Golden Era ,...

Hong Kong handover-themed exhibitions give artists freedom to explore political landscape

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 09:30:00 +0000

Plenty has been said this past week by the Chinese president, by protesters and most of all by the press about the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover. But conventional narratives leave plenty unsaid about what it feels like to live through the former British colony’s tumultuous and uncharted transition into a Chinese city. However, four group exhibitions and a new anthology of personal recollections, on show in Hong Kong, are helping to fill in some of the gaps. There are no authoritative...

Hongkongers camp out for tickets to tour Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in first public viewing

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 17:45:15 +0000

Hongkongers flocked to the city’s military barracks late Sunday night to wait for free tickets allowing them to embark and tour China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, opening to the public for the first time since it was commissioned in 2012. Military enthusiasts and local media lined up after the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong announced the ticketing arrangement for viewing the Liaoning and the three vessels in its fleet. The fleet’s debut visit to the city runs from...

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour lights up with largest and most expensive fireworks display in 20 years

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 12:00:30 +0000

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour was on Saturday lit up by the largest and most expensive fireworks display since 1997 – when the former British colony was returned to Chinese sovereignty – to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover and the inauguration of the city’s fourth chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. A total of 39,888 pyrotechnic shells were blasted into the sky from five barges during the 23-minute extravaganza, costing HK$12 million (US$1.5 million).

Full text of President Xi Jinping’s speech on ‘one country, two systems’ and how China rules Hong Kong

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 07:13:14 +0000

President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Saturday July 1, after he inaugurated the new Hong Kong administration led by Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the first woman to lead the city. He issued the clearest warning yet against challenges to China’s sovereignty by forces in Hong Kong, calling it a “red line”. He also asked the new administration to focus its energies on development, which he said would be the key to resolving Hong Kong’s...

Leon Lai, Joey Yung among Hong Kong stars in show marking eve of 20th anniversary of handover

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:45:45 +0000

After a rousing show of songs and dances marking 20 years since Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule, visiting President Xi Jinping joined performers on stage to sing a patriotic song as a fitting end to the evening on Friday. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and his successor Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also went up on stage to lend their voices to the chorus. The three greeted performers before stretching their vocal chords for the song Sing for Our Motherland. Ten years ago at the same venue,...

President Xi Jinping lauds efforts to curb Hong Kong independence advocates and offers full support

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 04:00:15 +0000

President Xi Jinping began a landmark visit to Hong Kong on Thursday, lauding the local government for “effectively curbing” independence advocacy, and promising Beijing’s full support to usher the city into a new future. On the first day of his three-day visit to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China, Xi said “the city’s governing team has worked hard and shown a sense of responsibility towards the country, Hong Kong and history” in making the “one country, two...

Class of ’97: Derek Kwong says the growing number of mainland students has raised competition for jobs

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:12 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Derek Kwong Siu-fai “I have lived in Wan Chai since I was born and feel strongly attached to the community. My hobby is collecting model cars and I bought most of them in nearby Tai...

Class of ’97: Soccer-mad Harrison Chu gave up on his dreams and returned to his textbooks

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:11 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Harrison Chu Pak-Ho “I fell in love with soccer at the age of 15. I was obsessed with the pace, power and cool tricks. I felt it was more challenging to do tricks with your feet than...

Class of ’97: Carmen Cheung thinks Hong Kong’s problems are not connected to its return to China

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:10 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Carmen Cheung Ka-man “I have always liked drawing and doing handicrafts. After I took the college entrance exam two years ago, I had some free time and decided to open an online gift...

Class of ’97: Porsche Kong thinks mainland Chinese support can help Hong Kong businesses develop

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:10 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Porsche Kong Pak-yin “I lived in Sham Shui Po for 18 years. Many of the clothing and toy stall owners have been here since I was born and they watched me as I grew up. My family...

Class of ’97: Chung Yick got a top score in Hong Kong’s secondary school diploma, but says education system needs improving

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:10 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Chung Yick “I was one of the top scorers in the Diploma of Secondary Education exams in 2015, however I was just a lucky person under the current education system. “The purpose of...

Class of ’97: Triad drug dealer turned musician, Law Chun-wan says Hongkongers are responsible for their own future

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:09 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Law Chun-wan “I am currently studying at Christian Zheng Sheng College, a rehabilitation secondary school for juveniles. I have been here since I was 14, months after I was arrested...

Class of ’97: Roquel Jazztine Marie thinks Hong Kong is blessed, though often encounters rudeness from older generation

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:09 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Roquel Jazztine Marie “My father works in a restaurant and my mum with a finance company. During severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), my father lost his job because there...

Class of ’97: Rabina Rai was born in Hong Kong but feels she will always be seen as a foreigner in city

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:08 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Rabina Rai “My parents are from Nepal and I was born in Tuen Mun Hospital. At home, we speak three different languages, Nepali, Cantonese and English. I also know a little Mandarin...

Class of ’97: May Cen thinks Hongkongers have better manners and speak quieter than mainland Chinese people

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:08 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. May Cen Yinyi “I moved to Hong Kong with my mother after finishing high school in Jiangmen, Guangdong province. My mum is from Jiangmen, my dad from Hong Kong, and he used to run a...

Class of ’97: Janice Wong says Hong Kong is more crowded and avoids political debate with her pro-China family

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:07 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Janice Wong Kwan-ting “The most obvious change I have noticed over the years is in the number of people flooding into the city. When out walking, I find there is someone in almost...

Class of ’97: Simon Tam wishes there were fewer high-rises and more space for street vendors selling traditional items

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:07 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Simon Tam Hei-man “I had no special feeling about 1997 at first, but after studying our history I realised I had grown up with Hong Kong and witnessed its transformation. “As a...

Class of ’97: Christie Wong is fascinated by Hong Kong English but finds city too money-driven

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:06 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Christie Wong Sum-yin “Majoring in English literature at Chinese University, I find the emergence of Hong Kong English and the way it has combined with Cantonese very...

Class of ’97: As HKU student union president, Wong Ching-tak has to be careful tackling political issues

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:06 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Wong Ching-tak “As president of the student union at the University of Hong Kong, I have had to focus on teaching and learning, as well as the maintenance of campus facilities and...

Class of ’97: From chopping ginger to a five-star hotel, chef Tsui Wai believes the flavour of Hong Kong will always appeal

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:05 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Tsui Wai Inside the kitchen of a Tsim Sha Tsui restaurant, Tsui Wai spends 13 hours a day chopping vegetables, plating dishes and practising cooking techniques – his dream is to...

Class of ’97: Erica Chin says political drama has equipped her generation with critical thinking skills

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:05 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Erica Chin Ho-nam “I’m a student at Baptist University, majoring in international journalism and, compared to some of my classmates, come from a modest background. My father is a...

Class of ’97: From indigenous village to international school, Jordan Lee has a keen sense of Hong Kong’s different worlds

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:05 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Jordan Lee His friends call him gwai zai or white boy and locals are shocked when he orders food in fluent Cantonese. But Jordan Lee sees himself as a Hongkonger, having spent his...

Class of ’97: The magic of Cantonese opera helps Jackie Leung feel connected with Hong Kong

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:04 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Jackie Leung You won’t find many 19 year olds at a rickety bamboo theatre, performing traditional Cantonese opera in silk robes, their faces covered in thick, colourful make-up. For...

Class of ’97: The wealth disparity in Hong Kong shocks Karen Yu but she remains positive and determined to help those in need

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:04 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Karen Yu Small in stature but with a big heart, Karen Yu is optimistic about her own and Hong Kong’s future. Originally from Taishan in Guangdong province, she came to Hong Kong when...

Class of ’97: Michael Chiu feels Hong Kong independence is the only way to protect city’s culture

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:03 +0000

Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans. Michael Chiu Hon-yip “I’ve just completed a higher diploma course in environmental engineering, and I hope to continue my studies at university. As a child, I cheered for mainland...

Meet Hong Kong’s handover generation

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:00:15 +0000

These 20 young people were born the year Hong Kong was returned to China by Britain. They’ve never known a time before. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the handover, they shared their stories.

Class of ’97: Juggling five jobs while studying in mainland China, Bosco Li hopes to get ahead in business

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:00:00 +0000

Bosco Li sells Korean facial cleansers, works part-time for a baby products company and plans to open his own coffee shop. He turned 20 just two months ago. Li, a Hong Kong native, is doing five jobs while studying at Zhejiang University in an attempt to get ahead of his peers in the business world. “I don’t want to make HK$10,000 a month like many college graduates,” he says at a mall in a suburb of Hangzhou, his mother’s hometown. The K-pop fan wears sunglasses, a Line Friends key chain and...

Security lockdown as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Hong Kong begins

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:15:15 +0000

President Xi Jinping begins his three-day visit to Hong Kong on Thursday under an unprecedented security blanket and on a tight schedule that includes reaching out to youth and other groups, as well as inaugurating a new government on the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China. According to state television, he will make a speech on arrival at the airport, ahead of his keynote address at the main ceremony on Saturday. Roads are closed and parts of Wan Chai and Admiralty...

Astronauts encourage young Hongkongers to reach for stars as fate of silkworms revealed

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 13:12:52 +0000

Pupils who designed a silkworm experiment for China’s space mission last year have been told the insects came to a frozen end. Six silkworms blasted off into space last October as part of a project suggested by those at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Sun Kei Secondary School. On meeting the astronauts involved for the first time on Wednesday, they were told the silkworms had died in the name of science. Nasa chooses 12 new astronauts and some may be going to Mars one day “We could not...

Out of sight, out of mind? Queen Victoria statue obscured by boards and banner ahead of Xi visit

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 01:45:15 +0000

A pro-Beijing group overseeing celebratory events for the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover to China was criticised as “petty” after it erected boards and a banner around Victoria Park in a way that obscured the Queen Victoria statue. The Hong Kong Celebrations Association, which had booked the football pitches in the park for a science expo between Thursday and Sunday, later removed the boards and inflatable banner in response to a request from the Leisure and Cultural Services...

20 years on from the handover, maestro keeps his faith in Hong Kong’s bright musical future

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 12:27:38 +0000

The conductor of Hong Kong’s flagship orchestra says he has decided to stay on after witnessing 20 years of ups and downs and growing regional competition. Yan Huichang, recently promoted to artistic director for life of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, says the memories of a city on the brink of the handover from colonial rule two decades ago are still fresh in his mind. “Fate was kind to me when I started my work at HKCO on June 1, 1997,” Yan, 63, told the Post. “If I had arrived after July 1,...

Dream of home away from home in mainland China loses its attraction for many elderly Hongkongers

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 06:01:44 +0000

Bigger flats and lower living costs on the mainland have seen many Hongkongers retire across the border, but the Post has found the lure may be starting to fade. Ms Woo, a 67-year-old Hongkonger, was attracted by the spacious community environment at Clifford Estates in Panyu, a Guangzhou suburb, when she bought a retirement flat and moved in with her mother in 2010. In her 1,000 sq ft flat, costing 300,000 yuan (HK$339,000), she enjoys twice as much space as her old home and knows it is...

President Xi Jinping may stay in a less exclusive hotel as an extra safety measure during Hong Kong visit

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:45:15 +0000

For security reasons, President Xi Jinping and his wife could break with the tradition of leaders staying in a top hotel and opt for the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Wan Chai during their three-day visit to the city, the Post has learnt. His delegation will be in the adjacent, more exclusive, Grand Hyatt and both hotels will be closed to other guests. The key factor favouring the Renaissance is that the site allows the president to get into a bulletproof limousine under cover of a...

Tempted by a rapidly changing mainland China, more Hongkongers are going north to study or get married

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:03:01 +0000

Going north has long been a path taken by those seeking their fortune, but increasingly young people chasing degrees or even looking for love are following in their footsteps. Many who make the move are attracted by the rapid changes the mainland is going through. By leaving their comfort zone they aim to achieve greater personal development and make the most of new opportunities. Esther Chan Yuen-yan, a 22-year-old Hong Kong native who will graduate from the Beijing University of Chinese...

Film review: Made in Hong Kong, re-released on its 20th anniversary, still a powerful snapshot of city’s hopes and fears

Mon, 26 Jun 2017 09:01:15 +0000

5/5 stars You couldn’t find a more ironic commemoration of 20 years of Chinese rule of Hong Kong than the re-release of this classic 1997 film, screening in a “4K resolution” restored version. A dark comedy about disenchanted youth, the plight of those at the grass roots and low-level triad members, Made in Hong Kong was one of the bleakest examinations of the city’s prospects in the lead-up to the change of sovereignty. Shot on leftover film stock collected from producer Andy Lau Tak-wah’s...

Hong Kong e-sports festival ticket sales on hold as organisers look for new venue

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 14:24:03 +0000

With tickets due to go on sale on Monday, the city’s first e-sports and music festival has run into trouble right from the start and is looking for a new venue. The Tourism Board blamed the summer heat for scrapping the outdoor location at Central harbourfront, adding talks were being held with the operator of an indoor venue. Hong Kong’s first ever e-sports and music festival to feature international gamers and K-pop stars It did not say whether the size and pricing of the three-day event,...

It’s on: Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Hong Kong for handover anniversary

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 02:15:00 +0000

Hong Kong is making final preparations and unprecedented security arrangements for President Xi Jinping’s visit, which has been confirmed for Thursday to Saturday, to mark the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover from British to Chinese rule and swear in a new administration. The president would also “inspect” the city, the official Xinhua news agency announced on Sunday, confirming a Post report on Friday that Xi would visit for the first time since becoming China’s leader in 2013. Xi’s...

Hong Kong’s oldest choir in US handover celebration

Sat, 24 Jun 2017 14:52:17 +0000

The city’s oldest choir set out to mark the handover anniversary in America, but ended up in a historic first, plus a union with musicians of the Hong Kong diaspora. Some 70 members of the Hong Kong Oratorio Society, founded in 1956, are on a two-city tour of California. After a sell-out performance at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco on Friday night, the choir, under music director and renowned composer Chan Wing-wah, will make its debut on Sunday at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a landmark...

Best spots to catch fireworks on the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 07:45:30 +0000

We always love a good fireworks display and this year’s July 1 fireworks, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Handover, is promising to be quite the showstopper. Almost 40,000 pyrotechnic shells will be lighting the sky above Victoria Harbour at 8pm for a full 23 minutes. With this much firepower to look forward to, nabbing the right viewing spot is essential. Instead of jostling with the crowds and fighting for personal space, book a table to enjoy a full view without someone’s head...

Here’s one Hong Kong art show that would have been ideal handover anniversary highlight

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 23:30:20 +0000

There is a long list of cultural events being promoted to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to Chinese rule this summer, but the latest exhibition by the city’s M+ art museum is not among them. Perhaps it should be. Its title, “Canton Express”, may evoke the problem-plagued high-speed railway to Guangzhou whose construction has held back work on M+ and the rest of the West Kowloon Cultural District, but this restaging of a 2003 Venice Biennale exhibition of Pearl River Delta art...

Superstar soprano Renee Fleming’s Hong Kong recital shows off her velvety voice, even if programme was light in parts

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 08:26:42 +0000

American soprano Renée Fleming is one of a handful of opera singers today who can be described as genuine superstars beyond the world of classical music. Known as “the people’s diva”, her exquisite voice, beauty and glamour, allied to her attractively down-to-earth personality, have won fans worldwide, and she received an ecstatic reception from a sold-out Concert Hall at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Earlier this year, at the age of 58, Fleming announced her retirement from classic operatic...

Hong Kong’s cross-harbour security plan for Chinese state leaders during handover celebrations

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 00:00:48 +0000

Hong Kong police will have contingency measures in place that include ferrying visiting state leaders across the harbour if land routes are blocked, with Chinese President Xi Jinping all but confirmed to attend celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty. The city is expected to be placed under an unprecedented security blanket for visiting state leaders at the end of the month, given concerns about global terrorism threats. Sources also said backup plans...

Hong Kong independence advocates plan June 30 rally despite ‘zero tolerance’ warning

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:30:30 +0000

A pro-independence group plans to hold a rally to “mourn” the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover to China, despite a warning by the head of the central government’s liaison office that Beijing will show “zero tolerance” to those advocating separatism. Andy Chan Ho-tin, convenor for the Hong Kong National Party, said the rally near the clock tower at Tsim Sha Tsui on the night of June 30 would be a peaceful one to unite independence supporters and localists. “We mourn the 20th anniversary...

China’s PLA ‘to play bigger role in boosting Hong Kong patriotism’

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 07:26:18 +0000

One of Beijing’s top men on Hong Kong matters said the Chinese army’s local troops will play a bigger role in boosting the city’s patriotism, as the garrison celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment and the 1997 handover on Friday. And Feng Wei, deputy director of Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said the soldiers had been a “strong backup” for the authorities during the pro-democracy Occupy protests that filled the city’s major streets in 2014. Feng was joined by Hong...