Street Carnival brings life to Hong Kong

There is no better time to have fun in Hong Kong than this winter, as three days of stage performances, pop music and dance presented by international and local singers and musicians bring a glamorous and exciting start to the City of Life Street Carnival, which begins on 20 December. The festivities will continue until 5 January and include a variety of entertainment and food booths, together with other special celebratory programmes during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The 17-day Street Carnival, which takes place at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai, follows the lighting-up of the Xmas Wishing Tree at the same venue on 1 December. It will be another highlight of Hong Kong WinterFest - a programme of spectacular activities and attractions organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and presented by New World Development Company Limited to celebrate the festive season. 

Details of the Street Carnival were announced at Golden Bauhinia Square today, by HKTB's Executive Director Ms Clara Chong and Director and Group General Manager of New World Development Company Limited, the presenters of Hong Kong WinterFest, Mr Stewart Leung.

Ms Chong remarked that Christmas was a festive season for everyone, and to live up to its position as the Events Capital of Asia, it was important for Hong Kong to celebrate the festival with some truly memorable happenings. "The Street Carnival is another major programme we have specially designed for our Christmas-time travellers after some very detailed planning," she explained.

"We know that young visitors and short-haul travellers are interested in entertainment, which is why the event will feature some special performances by popular artists. What we want to do is to create one huge party where our visitors can have the thrill of meeting their idols and soak up Hong Kong's cosmopolitan atmosphere."

Mr Leung reiterated the New World Group's pride in sponsoring and supporting such a special programme as Hong Kong WinterFest. "Following its official launch on 1 December, the Xmas Wishing Tree has become a popular festive attraction for both visitors and locals," he said. "The city-wide celebrations will certainly reach a peak when the City of Life Street Carnival starts."

The event has received strong support from a number of local record companies, while Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited is the Show Manager. The three days of on-stage programmes feature 54 local, Asian and international pop singers, musicians and bands. Celebrities attending today's press conference included Candice Chan, Daniel Chan, Tricia Chen, Yu Chiu, EO2, E-kids, Denise Ho, Andy Hui, Juno Mak, Shine, Dave Wang, Wong Ka Keung and Shawn Yue. They were joined by the Chief Executive Officer of Metro Broadcast, Mr Kam Kwok Leung.

As well as performing in the show on 20 December, City of Life: Hong Kong is it! Ambassador Aaron Kwok will help a Korean visitor realise her dream. The lady won the Korean section of a promotion called My Hong Kong Dream, by writing of her wish to meet Aaron on stage in Hong Kong. The contest was organised by the HKTB through its offices in nine different markets to promote Hong Kong WinterFest, with 22 participants earning a free trip to Hong Kong to realise their dreams during the WinterFest. Many of them said they longed for the chance of meeting their favourite artists. 

They will not be the only ones to see their wishes come true, as the HKTB is also helping many more lucky visitors to meet their idols as a way of enriching their travel experience and leaving them with happy memories of the city. Dozens of couples from Southern and Eastern China will be attending a wedding ceremony at which pop singer Richie Jen will add his blessing. Separately, Kelly Chen will meet 200 fans coming specially from Japan, Mainland China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

The first three days of the City of Life Street Carnival will be presented under different themes each day. Creative and tailor-made performances have been designed to showcase Hong Kong's vibrancy and diversity and offer visitors and locals the chance to enjoy a festive extravaganza.

The main stage adopts a highly innovative design with spherical decorations to represent the City of Life's dynamism. The fact that visitors can enjoy non-stop excitement in Hong Kong is also symbolised, with colourful balls spinning up and down inside a giant transparent balloon of 20 feet in diameter during these three days. 

The first-night's carnival, under the theme of World Colours, is presented in different hues. Artists in coloured outfits, together with special stage effects, will represent Hong Kong's diversity of cultures. The show runs from 6:00 pm until 11:00 pm, and admission begins at 5:00 pm. 

Heating up the stage will be world-renowned pianist Yundi Li, followed by specially designed performances by different artists. Canto-pop diva Kelly Chen is teaming up with a modern dance troupe to present an "ocean dance". In a mini-fashion show, Andy Hui will be leading young female singers to showcase outfits made by renowned local designers. 

The audience is bound to be dazzled by Richie Jen's impeccable skills in playing different musical instruments and Gigi Leung's rendition of international cartoon classics. This will be followed by Miriam Yeung's performance with a ballet troupe for the first time. The event also includes household names such as international jazz musician Eugene Pao and world-renowned nostalgia band BeatleMania Live from the United States.

Hong Kong's energy, rhythm and vibrancy will again be showcased to the full on the second night (21 December) at the World Party, when artists will perform various dance routines such as jazz and hip-hop. This show also runs from 6:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Admission begins at 5:00 pm. Funky music and dance by Sally Yeh, EO2 and E-kids will warm up the scene. The event also features British eight-piece band The Planets, performing a fusion of classical and modern electronic music. Other exciting performances are in store from City of Life: Hong Kong is it! Ambassador Karen Mok and a number of new singers taking part.

The carnival with the theme of World United on 22 December falls on the Winter Solstice, which for Chinese people is a festival of family gathering. On this day, artists from different parts of the world will signify that Hong Kong is a meeting point for different races and cultures. 

The show runs from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm, with admission beginning at noon. International flavour is the main theme of the day, with worldwide classics sung by Joey Yung, an up-tempo medley from Dave Wang and a special performance by Twins. Young singers and children dressed in different costumes will perform Christmas carols and offer season's greetings in various languages, while Hacken Lee will further spice up the atmosphere by leading the crowd to sing in unison. 

As the finale, a Fantasia Parade will bring the atmosphere to a climax when children in multi-cultural costumes and painted faces join Brazilian dancing girls to celebrate the festive season.

Interaction between the performers and audience, together with game segments, will be core elements. Off-stage, there will be free instant photo snapshots, balloon twisters and free party rattles. The HKTB is setting up two giant LED monitors so that spectators can enjoy the show at different locations. 

Both visitors and local residents are welcome to enjoy the on-stage programmes, but admission tickets must be obtained in advance. From 18 December onwards, visitors can obtain tickets at HKTB's Visitor Information and Services Centres at the Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui or The Center in Central. Each visitor is entitled to two tickets on a first come, first served basis. Local residents can get their free tickets from Metro Broadcast at Whampoa Garden on 6, 7 and 9-14 December. The enquiry hotline is (852) 2111 8359.

In addition to the three days of on-stage programmes, some 40 entertainment and food booths will be set up along the waterfront between 20 December and 5 January at Golden Bauhinia Square. Well known breweries will host booths at the Biergarten, serving beer with Chinese barbecued pork and other roasted delicacies to make it a multi-cultural dining experience. Visitors and locals can compete against each other in a drinking contest.

Kids' World will feature some of the latest games, together with booths operated by Jumpin' Gym and Play Station. There will also be booths teaching children the skills of making attractive gifts or toys with paper and beads.

The "Must Buy, Must Eat" Bazaar features typical Hong Kong products and foodstuffs such as Chinese cakes, tea leaves, tea-ware and "dragon beard candy". Winning restaurants in the HKTB's Best of the Best Culinary Awards will again showcase their winning delicacies.

Other special products featured include souvenirs from Teddy Bear Kingdom and football team watches from Manchester United. There will also be photo-taking services; a booking facility for HeliHongKong's helicopter tours; New World Mobility's mobile phones; New World First Ferry's One Day Island-Hopping Passes and bus and ferry models; New World Department Store (Kiu Fung Hong) biscuits, gifts and Korean foodstuffs; and Fu Lin Tang Chinese herbal tea bags and drinks.

The operating hours of the booths are 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on weekdays, 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm on Saturdays and public holidays, and 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Admission is free. Between 20 and 22 December, the public should enter the booth area through Expo Drive at the extension of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Adding to the festivities will be a series of themed activities taking place on the stage next to the Xmas Wishing Tree on 24-26 and 31 December. On Christmas Eve, the audience will be able to enjoy Christmas carols and other seasonal music, along with entertainment such as magic shows and Brazilian dance.

On Christmas Day, Asia's well-known Latin band Azucar Latina will be playing some wonderful dance and romantic melodies, while Boxing Day will be hot and exciting as the show features dance routines such as the para para and samba. On New Year's Eve, visitors and residents can dance away the last hours of 2002 to hip-hop and rock 'n' roll music played by local musicians and groups.

Hong Kong WinterFest, which is organised by the HKTB and presented by New World Development Company Limited, is the fifth major event of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign. The tourism campaign is organised by the HKTB in co-operation with the Hong Kong SAR Government's Home Affairs Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Tourism Commission, with the support of the 18 District Councils and with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as Principal Sponsor.

Note: The section of Expo Drive East between the bus terminal and Expo Drive Central will be closed between 6:00 am on 19 December and 6:00 am on 23 December. Please also note that the bus terminal at Expo Drive East will be temporarily relocated to Wan Chai Ferry bus terminal at Convention Avenue during the above period. Ticket-holders for the on-stage performances should enter the venue at Expo Drive East entrance.