Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year Night Parade to be Bigger and Better

On Chinese New Year’s Day (26 January) the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will present the International Chinese New Year Night Parade for the 14th consecutive year, with Cathay Pacific Airways as the title sponsor of the event.

Carrying the banner of “World’s Happiest Party”, the 2009 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade will be held in a more prominent scale and enhanced with more festive lighting and decorations along the parade route.

Mr James Tien, Chairman of the HKTB, said that the parade and other New Year celebratory activities have become an integral part of Hong Kong’s local culture and enhanced the uniqueness of our city among neighbouring destinations. “Hong Kong is renowned for its Chinese New Year celebratory activities. The HKTB hopes to encourage visits from targeted short-haul markets, such as the Mainland, Taiwan and other destinations in the region, by promoting our city’s unique Chinese New Year celebrations, as well as providing an effective marketing platform for local travel, retail and catering businesses,” Mr Tien said.

The Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways Mr Tony Tyler said, “This is the 11th consecutive year for Cathay Pacific to be the title sponsor for the International Chinese New Year parade. Through the years we have been delighted to see the parade become an integral part of local Chinese New Year celebrations, as well as being a major attraction for thousands of visitors from all over the world. As Hong Kong's airline it is part of our job to support events that make Hong Kong a more attractive place to live and a more exciting place to visit.”

To ensure that the joy of the festivity can be shared by more in the community, the HKTB has specially collaborated with Senior Citizen Home Safety Association in arranging seats for 60 singleton elderly to enjoy the night parade in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza on Chinese New Year’s Day.

In addition, the HKTB will for the first time, offer half-price concession to elderly and children to encourage more people to join the event. Tickets are available for sale at HKTB Visitor Centres in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.

The parade this year will showcase 39 performing units from 12 countries and regions, featuring a combination of 13 brightly illuminated floats, 13 international and 13 local performing groups, an increase compared to last year’s.

This year also sees another increase in the number of new participants, with 18 groups participating the event for the first time, including Mmabana Arts, Cultural and Sports Foundation Dance Company (South Africa), Ballet Folklorico Dance Group (USA), Brass Band of Moscow Cadet Music Corps (Russia) and so on. Besides, new elements that appeal to children have also been added to the parade this year, for instance, featuring popular cartoon characters from “Chibi Maruko Chan Land” and the funny-looking “Pirates Float from Spain”.

To enhance the party ambience, the HKTB will adorn the parade route with festive lightings and decorations and arrange festively-clad performing artists to mix in with the spectators, engage them in interactive games as well as give out inflatable cheering sticks.

Chinese New Year Fiesta

Apart from the parade, the HKTB will also organise for the first time, a six-day Chinese New Year Fiesta as a pilot – from 27 January to 1 February – offering visitors and residents additional entertainment during the Chinese New Year.

The Fiesta will feature display of floats, as well as entertainment and special performances given out by local and international troupes. In addition, the HKTB has invited non-profit making and charitable organisations to set up stalls along Avenue of Stars, selling handicraft and other products.

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