Hong Kong's City of Life January recommendation - Eastern District

Hong Kong's Eastern District, filled with a wide range of unique attractions, will be in the spotlight during January 2003 as the City of Life Hong Kong is it! campaign's "Recommendation of the Month - Eastern District". Details of the wide range of tourism-related events and activities taking place throughout the Eastern District Tourism Month were announced at the Eastern District Tourism Month cum Arts and Cultural Festival Opening Ceremony held by the Eastern District Council today (27 December) at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, Shau Kei Wan.

Officiating at the ceremony were Chairlady, Eastern District Council, Ms Christina Ting Yuk-chee, BBS, JP; Eastern District Officer, Miss Agnes Tse, JP; Assistant Director (Heritage & Museums), Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Mr Tony Ma, JP; Chief Manager (Tourism), Tourism Commission, Mr Kenneth She; General Manager - Destination Marketing, HKTB, Mr Lambert Chan; Deputy Head of RTHK Radio 2, Mr David Ho; Vice-Chairman, Eastern District Council, Mr Chung Shu-kun, MH; and Chairman, Leisure and Culture Committee under Eastern District Council, Mr James Kong, MH.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Ting said that since September 2001, Eastern District Council had launched a series of tourism promotion activities on the theme of Eastern District - Thriving in the New Century. "This year the Leisure and Culture Committee under Eastern District Council has devoted resources to establishing the Eastern District Tourist Trail as a more effective introduction to visitors of the historical and cultural spots in the district," she said.

"The opening ceremony of the trail was held on 1 December 2002, as a prelude to Eastern District Tourism Month. The highlight of the Tourism Month will be the large-scale Eastern District Arts and Cultural Festival, with a packed and excellent programme that will be loved by both residents and visitors," Ms Ting added.

Mr Ma noted that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department was planning to take over the retired Alexander Grantham fireboat for permanent display at the waterfront of Quarry Bay Park. "This fireboat has served Hong Kong for 50 years and has been closely related to our daily life. It is expected that the fireboat will be ready for public visits by 2004, and this will certainly become a new attraction in Eastern District." he said.

"We sincerely look forward to having more collaboration with the Eastern District Council, Eastern District Office, the HKTB, the Tourism Commission and the media to promote cultural tourism in the district," Mr Ma added.

Artistes attending the ceremony to introduce attractions and scenic spots in Eastern District were Bobo Chan, Kenn Chan, Yu Chiu, EO2, Ricky Fan, Denise Ho, Jo Koo, Karena Lam, Roland Leung and Edwin Siu.

Eastern District Council is providing its full support to the programme by organising a series of arts, cultural and entertainment activities under the theme of "Eastern District Tourism Month". The Tourism Month and the District's annual Arts and Cultural Festival will be launched with a carnival at 3:00 pm on 4 January in Victoria Park, featuring popular singers, traditional Chinese food, handicraft demonstrations, and stilt walkers dressed as characters from Chinese legends. 

Visitors can experience the fun of Chinese New Year by visiting the annual flower market held in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. To add to the festive ambience of the fair, Eastern District Council will erect decorative lighting with a distinctive Chinese flavour around the park. A special Chinese New Year Lighting Switch-on Ceremony will take place at 6:30 pm on 29 January. The ceremony will feature dragon and lion dances, plus a traditional Chinese puppet show with performers from Guangxi Province, Mainland China.

Operating hours for the flower market at Victoria Park will be as follows: noon - midnight, 26 to 28 January; noon - 3:00 am, 29 to 30 January; and noon on 31 January to the early hours of 1 February.

A large-scale carnival will mark the finale of Eastern District Tourism Month at 10:30 pm on 31 January, the last night of the Year of the Horse, continuing until 1:00 am on 1 February. Featuring performances by famous singers, comedians, and other entertainers, the carnival will bring together visitors and Hong Kong residents in a boisterous countdown to signify the end of the Year of the Horse and welcome the Year of the Goat. 

Visitors and residents will find their money will go farther with the free Shopping and Dining Privilege Card programme created by Eastern District Council. The card provides an array of discounts and special benefits at selected restaurants and shops until March 2003. The Privilege Card and handbook can be obtained from the HKTB's Visitor Information & Services Centres and all District Office Public Enquiry Service Centres.

From 10 January until 6 February 2003, major shopping mall Cityplaza will stage a variety of Chinese New Year celebration activities, including entertainment programmes from the Mainland such as lively music performed by the Central Minority Orchestra from Beijing and shadow and puppet dramas by actors from Hunan Province. The celebrations will also feature colourful ethnic costumes and musical instrument exhibitions.

Visitors and local residents will be provided with an opportunity to take photographs of a Welcome Arch that has been erected at Victoria Park. Christmas and Chinese New Year lighting decorations, bunting and banners have also been displayed in various locations to create a district-wide festive atmosphere. Further information on other attractions in the Eastern District can be found in January's Attractions, published by the HKTB.

Since September 2001, each of Hong Kong's 18 districts has been taking its turn to promote its attractions as the "Recommendation of the Month", part of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign. The campaign is organised by the HKTB in co-operation with the Hong Kong SAR Government's Home Affairs Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Tourism Commission, with the support of the 18 District Councils and with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as Principal Sponsor.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Recommended Attraction: Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence

· Built in 1887, the Museum is located on the site of the Lei Yue Mun Fort and is one of the most formidable fortifications to be constructed in Hong Kong. It showcases Hong Kong's coastal defence history covering the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the British colonial period, the Japanese invasion during World War II and Hong Kong's reunification with China.

· The Museum is divided into three main areas, namely the reception area, the Redoubt and the Historical Trail.

· The Redoubt, the heart of the fort's defence system, has been turned into an exhibition area featuring the history of Hong Kong's coastal defences.

· Other historical military structures such as the gun batteries, the Brennan Torpedo Station, caponiers and magazines have been restored to form a Historical Trail.

2. District Festivals and Events

Eastern District Tourism Month and Arts and Cultural Festival Opening Carnival

Eastern District Tourism Month and the District's annual Arts and Cultural Festival will be launched with a carnival featuring popular singers, traditional Chinese food, folk handicraft demonstrations, and stilt walkers dressed as characters from Chinese legends. The carnival is being organised by Eastern District Council and will provide entertainment and family fun for everyone.

Date: 4 January 2003 (Saturday)
Time: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Venue: Victoria Park soccer pitches Nos. 1 and 2

2003 Victoria Park Chinese New Year Flower Market

Experience the fun of Chinese New Year the way Hong Kong residents do by joining in with the festivities and visiting the annual flower market held in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. Flower markets are an integral part of Chinese New Year celebrations and Victoria Park is home to the biggest flower market in Hong Kong. During Chinese New Year celebrations the market attracts large numbers of people seeking special food for the holidays and beautiful seasonal flowers that will bring them good luck in the new year. More than 400 stalls will sell a variety of new year items including peach blossoms for people seeking a better love life and kumquat trees, which are believed to bring wealth.

To add to the festive ambience of the fair, Eastern District Council will erect decorative lighting with a distinctive Chinese flavour around the park. A special Chinese New Year Lighting Switch-on Ceremony will take place on 29 January from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the park's No. 6 soccer pitch. The ceremony will feature dragon and lion dances, plus a traditional Chinese puppet show with performers from Guangxi Province, Mainland China.

Date: 26 January to 31 February 2003
Time: 26 to 28 January, noon - midnight 
29 to 30 January, noon - 3:00 am 
31 January, noon - early hours of 1 February
Venue: Victoria Park

Chinese New Year's Eve Carnival

A large-scale carnival will mark the finale of Eastern District Tourism Month. The carnival will bring together visitors and Hong Kong residents in a boisterous countdown to signify the end of the Year of the Horse and to welcome the Year of the Goat. The carnival will feature performances by famous singers, comedians, and other entertainers.

Date: 31 January 2003 (Friday)
Time: 10:30 pm - 1:00 am
Venue: Victoria Park Tennis Centre Court

Shopping and Dining Privilege Programme in Eastern District

Visitors' and residents' money will go farther with the free Shopping and Dining Privilege programme created by Eastern District Council. Holders of the programme's privilege card can obtain an array of discounts and special benefits at selected restaurants and shops until March 2003. The privilege card and handbook can be obtained from Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Information & Services Centres.

3. Shopping Mall Promotions

Cityplaza

From 10 January until 6 February 2003, Cityplaza will stage a variety of Chinese New Year celebration activities, including entertainment programmes from the Mainland such as lively music performed by the Central Minority Orchestra from Beijing, and shadow and puppet dramas by actors from Hunan Province, Also featured will be colourful ethnic costumes and musical instrument exhibitions, free gift redemption and instant lucky draws.

4. On-site Decorations

· "Welcome Arch" at Victoria Park.

· Eastern District Council will erect Christmas and Chinese New Year lighting and other decorations throughout the district to enhance the festive ambience.

5. Other District Attractions

History and Heritage

· Eastern District Tourist Trail (Shau Kei Wan Section)
· Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay
· Law Uk Folk Museum
· Noon Day Gun
· Hong Kong Film Archive

Shopping and Dining

· Cityplaza
· TaiKoo Place
· Marble Road open-air market
Other Points of Interest
· Victoria Park