Hong Kong's A Symphony of Lights Bids Farewell

The 15-minute light show at the HKCEC

I was surprised to discover Hong Kong's 8pm "A Symphony of Lights" show has been running for 22 years! No wonder it was... not good.

At the appointed time, there's lasers and lights shining from various rooftops from buildings in Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, and in Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon on Kowloon side for about 15 minutes. There's music that goes with it, but you can only hear it if you are near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and the Avenue of Stars.  

The lasers created a Star Wars effect

During the Covid-19 pandemic, after dinner, I would walk from Kennedy Town to get to the Convention Centre on time so that I could listen to the music. That's how exciting my evenings were, since restaurants were closed by 6pm. Bars, movie theatres, karaoke lounges had all shut down. 

While the lights and lasers give a kind of Star Wars effect, it gets old, really fast.

So it was a relief to hear the light show will finally get revamped.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said the new show will feature 3D projections and various themes.

"Over the past 20 years, A Symphony of Lights has been optimised and updated many times, but relying solely on laser performances from buildings has become somewhat insufficient," she said.

"After gathering feedback over the past year, we have decided not to allocate resources for major modifications to it."

But A Symphony of Lights won't be slinking away right away -- Law promises there will be special farewell events to mark the end of the show that started back in 2004.

She suggested the new light show would be theme-based, such as Halloween and Mid-Autumn Festival to maximise effect, and would not be shown daily to encourage people to come out to watch it.

Good intentions, we will be keen on seeing what the government comes up with...

Hong Kong Island Promenade is Complete

Visitors can wear shoe covers on the glass walkway

During the Covid-19 pandemic, after dinner during the week I walked along the Hong Kong waterfront from Kennedy Town to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and back, a good 10K.

I enjoyed being among people, in the fresh air and getting exercise.

The last 1.1K section was unveiled to the public

Then on the weekends my friend and I would walk further to Sai Wan Ho, but when we got to Tin Hau and Fortress Hill, there were breaks in the path and we had to walk inland a few blocks before getting back on the harbourfront path.

But yesterday the last section, about 1.1K long was finally completed, from the North Point Promenade to Hoi Yu Street in Quarry Bay. Now people can literally go from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan in 13K.

Part of the North Point section features a glass walkway, where visitors need to wear shoe covers... seems a bit over the top for a path that's mainly for looking at the scenery above than below the water.

Nevertheless this project of designing and constructing a 13k promenade is 16 years in the making and it's great to see it's finally finished.

The path is a great way to see the city

It's a fantastic way not only for locals to enjoy their city, but also for visitors to see how accessible Hong Kong is and to appreciate the views from the waterfront. 

When I recently visited Hong Kong I was staying in North Point and walked along the waterfront towards Causeway Bay a few times. 

Can't wait to go back and walk the whole 13K!

Picture of the Day: Totem Pole in HK

The totem pole is blocked by potted plants

One day during my trip to Hong Kong I had some extra time in the late afternoon before meeting a friend for dinner in Harbour City, so I went to Kowloon Park.

After all my years living in Hong Kong I have to admit I'm not very familiar with the park so it was a good opportunity to wander around and see the facilities that include a swimming pool, a mini soccer pitch, an aviary, piazza, a maze garden and sculpture garden.

These feral cats don't like humans

I walked up a hill and saw some feral cats that reside there; a cat lady was fussing over them and bringing them dinner. It reminded me of the volunteers who feed the cats that reside on the giant rocks by the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai...

But I also came across a totem pole! What was this doing here in Hong Kong of all places! I tried to get closer to it, but the tiled steps leading to it were closed off by potted plants in a bid to keep visitors away from it. Were people touching to cause the staff to prevent people from getting too close? This is why my picture looks so awkward.

As a result I could not find a plaque or some kind of explanation of why this totem pole was here.

An article by Christopher DeWolf gives a bit more information: "On the other side of the park is a totem pole carved by the indigenous Tlingit people of British Columbia in Canada."

New MTR Station Brings Shenzhen Closer

One of the newest stations in the MTR system

This afternoon my friend and I intended to walk from Central to North Point, to help me digest a big lunch I had just eaten. However, by the time we got to the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre we could see dark clouds looming over us, and periodic muted claps of thunder.

When we arrived at the Wan Chai ferry pier, we felt rain drops on our heads and decided to bail and get to the relatively new Exhibition Centre MTR station. This was being built when I left Hong Kong two years ago so it was interesting to finally see it open.

Lots of space for people to move in the station

It is on the East Rail line, which means starts from Admiralty all the way to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau. In other words, there is now no need to go to Hung Hom to get to Shenzhen -- you can easily start the journey from Admiralty.

Talk about making it easier to get across the border...

Again at lunch there was discussion about going to Shenzhen. A great deal is getting glasses made there -- in half an hour -- at HK$200 per pair for not too complicated prescriptions.

Since it's so chea, people get more than one pair made.

Not only can you pick them up to go home, but also have the option of someone bringing these glasses to you in Hong Kong.

Even Costco in Shenzhen has a delivery service where if you buy your items in the morning, they can be delivered to you by the late afternoon.

This line goes all the way to Shenzhen

How can Hong Kong compete with that? And just a very convenient ride away on the East Rail line, the second stop being Exhibition Centre.

Hong Kong's Splashy Welcome

Were TVB dancers recruited to kick off the presentation?

Hong Kong's back, baby!

That's what the Hong Kong government wants the world to know.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has just launched a HK$2 billion (US$255.2 million) campaign called "Hello Hong Kong" where 500,000 free airline tickets will be given away along with free welcome drinks at select bars and restaurants across the city. One would assume champagne and cocktails, not Hong Kong-style milk tea at a cha chaan teng...

Lee all smiles in launching HK$2B campaign

At the kick-off event held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dane Cheng Ting-yat, head of the Tourism Board, also boasted some 250 events will be held in the city, including Clockenflap, Rugby Sevens, and Art Basel.

The Tourism Board will also give away 1 million vouchers for welcome drinks, discounts on attractions as well as food and drinks and transportation. Do they mean Uber or the Star Ferry?

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also talked about Hong Kong entering a new development phase.

"We are actively returning to normalcy. Nothing can stop us from bouncing back... We eagerly welcome friends from around the world to come, see and experience for themselves the vibrancy and dynamics of our city."

He also says the government will provide accurate information about Hong Kong to the world as people overseas might have misunderstandings about the city.

"We will try our best to explain," Chan says, adding he wants visitors to come and "feel Hong Kong's loveable sides".

Where's the women in this stage?

Since when was the city cuddly?

More importantly how can the government erase the stark 2019 images of police with batons hitting protesters holding up umbrellas, and officers shooting rounds of teargas? With over 300,000 people leaving Hong Kong for the United Kingdom alone in the last two years, surely it's a sign they cannot live in their own hometown anymore, while some 1,300 political prisoners are still languishing in jail.

But this is the Chinese way of doing things -- moving on and pretending it never happened, wallpapering over the problem in the hopes no one remembers.

Will this flashy campaign actually work? It depends on who the government wants to target. There are those who have missed coming to Hong Kong for three years, while others have yet to discover the place.

Those who have recently visited tell me it feels different from before, but can't quite put their finger on it. They know the city has been hit hard by Covid-19, but don't really know or understand how the national security law has dismantled the city as they knew it before.

But hey -- no need to worry about that now, Hong Kong's back, baby!

Is Hong Kong Back in Business?

Chan gave a pre-recorded message from Saudi Arabia

Hong Kong's back baby! FinTech Week has kicked off in the city, but its host, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po contracted Covid-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and can't come back until he tests negative. 

It's quite embarrassing to not be able to be there to host your own party, isn't it?

He started his speech apologising for not being at the opening ceremony in person. "Obviously the Arabian hospitality is keeping me away," he joked.

Har-har.

The event is held at the convention centre

Chan told the audience in a pre-recorded message that the event was a "memorable moment for Hong Kong in a great many ways... In a great many ways, we're telling the world that we're back. Back in business, back in the business, and pleasure, of welcoming you to Hong Kong."

Quite repetitive. Does he have anything else to say?

On Wednesday the Global Financial Leaders' Summit kicks off, followed by the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament two days later. Oh good news! People can eat in their seats while watching the games now!

There is also the fact that some heads of American banking institutions are attending the event when the US government has warned them of "whitewashing human rights violations" with their presence and enabling Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu's strategy of opening up when he is one of several government officials sanctioned by the US for cracking down on human rights in the city.

As a result, Lee cannot open a bank account with these financial institutions whose top executives are sharing the stage with him later this week.

Stand News' Lam was arrested last December

While this hoopla about luring top bankers to come to Hong Kong as proof that it's back in business is taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, some 300 metres away in a courtroom are two former editors of the defunct Stand News are on trial for conspiracy to publish seditious publications, a sedition law from the colonial era.

Stand News editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam were arrested last December and if convicted, they could face a maximum jail term of two years and a fine of HK$5,000 (US$640) for a first offense, and three years for a subsequent offense. 

Their trial is expected to last 20 days.

Is this what Chan means by Hong Kong's back? 

Patriots Come out to Party

A sea of red flags for National Day are hung around the city

It's October 1, National Day, and all the patriots are out in force to celebrate.

At the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre by Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, senior government officials all wore maroon-coloured masks for the flag-raising ceremony.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was there of course, along with familiar faces, such as former chief executives Leung Chun-ying and Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor were there, though Tung Chee-hwa was absent.

Flag-raising ceremony at Bauhinia Square

There was another flag-raising ceremony held at Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- perhaps to show the world that the tertiary institution -- that was the site of a siege by protesters three years ago -- is all cleaned up and under full control of the government.

People on social media have pointed out that all these guests can gather together in public without violating social-distancing measures which has limited people to groups of four...

Meanwhile some local patriots came out to the Tsim Sha Tsui harbour front and donned patriotic masks and some even wore Han dynasty robes complete with headdresses and waving Chinese flags. 

Patriotic maidens wearing Han dynasty robes

Why they did that is strange, considering the Communist Party wanted to get rid of the "Four Olds": old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits.

Perhaps they belong to some pro-establishment group promoting traditional Chinese dress? They sure caught the attention of the media as they seemed to be the only local residents to be genuinely celebrating the day...

Mystery VIP Possibly Coming to HK

Lee and Lam will quarantine for seven days for July 1

A super important guest may be coming to Hong Kong to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the handover, and there are stipulations that anyone near this person must quarantine for seven days beforehand.

Hotels at the convention centre are booked up

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor refuses to clarify if Chinese leader Xi Jinping will be coming on July 1. But it seems the two hotels attached to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre -- the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel are completely booked up from June 23 to July 1.

About 1,000 staff, security guards and police officers will have to quarantine in case Xi shows up. Lam and her cabinet, as well as incoming leader John Lee Ka-chiu and his entourage will also have to quarantine for a week too, even if they don't have direct contact with the Chinese leader.

Wonder who gets to quarantine in the presidential suites?

"We are of course eagerly anticipating a visit by a state leader, and I believe that as so many things have happened in the past five years, there must be some important speeches to make on charting the course for the further development of Hong Kong," said Lam, who with her team is making preparations for Xi to come -- if he does...

Like Lam, Lee and cabinet will be sworn in

It all depends on the city's Covid-19 situation. It definitely won't be zero-Covid, but how low would be low enough for Xi to make the trip is hard to say. On Wednesday Hong Kong reported 558 cases, which includes 63 imported infections.

In preparing the security detail, Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee said there would be unprecedented security in the area around the convention centre and even elite squads will be deployed.

"We cannot neglect the possibility of local terrorism and terrorist attacks. We have been making numerous arrests of people using genuine firearms and explosives," Siu said. "We have been able to interdict the activities, but there's no room for complacency... It will be a very full mobilisation of our officers to deal with these security operations."

Police chief not taking any chances with security

Sounds like it's best to just completely avoid Wan Chai altogether to prevent inadvertently crossing paths with these elite squads...