Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財
All of us here at bc magazine would like to wish our readers, advertisers, and suppliers a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous Year of the Dragon.
Category: February
Rugby Week 2023
After the individual creativity of Art Week, the wonders of team creativity are on display as Rugby Week 2023 scrums down.
Unfortunately, the traditional rugby week curtain-raiser Kowloonfest has been postponed again until 2024 – the old and venerable taking longer to recover and reboot post covid.
This year’s action starts with, perhaps the best rugby of the week, the Hong Kong 10s at Hong Kong Football Club on Wednesday 29 March. Proper scrums and brutal power forward play are features of the Tens, especially on Thursday night. It’s perhaps the closest we in Hong Kong can get to seeing modern rugby up close and personal. Select teams packed with talent and big names, new and old, from around the world put a physicality and rawness to images seen on television that really needs to be experienced in person.
Amidst the Sevens partying, a rugby tournament takes place… After November’s empty stadium, harsh crowd restrictions and drab atmosphere – can the Sevens recover its allure as one of the world’s great sporting/social events?
Here are the dates for your Rugby Week 2023 diary.
Kowloon Fest
When: postponed to 2024
More info: www.rugbyfest.org
Hong Kong Tens
When: 29-30 March, 2023
Where: Hong Kong Football Club
How much: $120
More info: www.hkfc10s.com
HK Sevens
Date: 31 March – 2 April, 2023
Venue: HK Stadium
Tickets: $1,950
More info: www.HKsevens.com
Backstreet Boys – DNA World Tour
With countless #1s, record-setting tours, numerous awards and worldwide sales in excess of 130 million Backstreet Boys are perhaps the biggest ‘boyband’ in history.
And they return to Hong Kong on the 14-15 March at AsiaWorld Arena with their DNA World Tour.
Backstreet Boys – DNA World Tour
When: 8pm, 14-15 March, 2023
Where: AsiaWorld Arena
Tickets: $1,199, $899, $699, $599 from HK Ticketing
Comeback Kid Live!
Canadian hardcore band Comeback Kid bring their latest tour to Hong Kong on the 15 March at MOM Livehouse.
Formed in 2001 in Winnipeg, the band currently consists of vocalist Andrew Neufeld, guitarists Jeremy Hiebert and Stu Ross, bassist Chase Brenneman and drummer Loren Legare.
Comeback Kid’s mould-breaking second album Wake the Dead (2005) attracted fans across the globe and influenced a new generation of melodic hardcore groups. Their seventh studio album, Heavy Steps, was released in January 2022.
Support is King Ly Chee 荔枝王, Fight Club
Comeback Kid Asia Tour 2023
Support: King Ly Chee 荔枝王, Fight Club
Date: 8pm, 15 March, 2023
Venue: MOM Livehouse
Tickets: $380, $320
Hong Kong Art Week 2023
The art world focuses on Hong Kong in March with three exhibitions bringing thousands of art pieces from emerging and established artists.
As the old cliche goes ‘one man’s art though is another’s trash’ and you’ll wonder exactly what the attraction of some pieces are – but there’s enough variety that you’ll likely find a few things to discus, enjoy and perhaps even buy.
Art Central
A contemporary art fair in the heart of Hong Kong with over 100 exhibitors showcasing the next generation of talent alongside some of the most established galleries from across Asia.
Art Central
Date:22-25 March 2023
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets:$275, $225, $175 from HKTicketing
More info:
23 March: 2-5pm / 5-8pm
24 March: 12nn -4pm / 4-8pm
24 March: 12nn -4pm / 4-8pm
25 March: 11am -3pm / 3-6pm
Art Basel
Many of the world’s leading modern and contemporary art galleries display paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, prints, photography, film, video, and digital art by over 4,000 artists.
Art Basel
Date: 23-25 March, 2023
Venue: HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: $1,560, $1,290, $1,020, $850, $600, $530, $430, $320, $280 from HKTicketing
More info:
22 March: 5-9pm
23 March: 2-8pm
24 March: 2–8pm
25 March: 12 noon–6pm
HK Art Week 2023
Date: 22 – 25 March, 2023
Venue: HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: Free, tbc
Social Distancing Measures Relaxed from 21 April
Yet more illogical changes to Hong Kong’s social distancing measures. Why is it ‘safe’ to go to the cinema or have a massage – yet not sit on the beach in the sun where the sunshine can kill the virus and help strengthen the bodies defences against the virus. Why can four people sit in a restaurant to drink and eat but not in a bar?…
Social distancing measures will be relaxed from 21 April in three phases over a period of three months. Use of LeaveHomeSafe and Vaccine Pass upon entering premises will still be required.
Phase 1:
• Reopening of amusement game centres, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment, beauty parlours and massage establishments, sports premises, event premises and religious premises, where the number of persons per group gathering will be 4 generally.
• Relaxation of dine-in service hours at catering premises to 10pm, with the maximum number of persons allowed per table increased to 4; bars/pubs to remain closed.
• Reopening of all sports premises, museums, performance venues and libraries under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
• Masks-on all the time (including when doing exercise) except under necessary circumstances, e.g. eating or drinking at catering premises, receiving facial treatment at beauty parlours.
• Relaxation of the restriction on the maximum number of persons per group gathering in a public place to 4; cancellation of the prohibition on multi-household gatherings at private premises involving more than 2 households.
Phase 2:
• Reopening of the remaining scheduled premises, i.e. swimming pools, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs/nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong/tin kau premises and cruise ships; relaxation of the restriction on the maximum number of persons per table/group gathering at scheduled premises to 8 by and large.
• Reopening of beaches under Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
• Masks-off allowed in outdoor areas of country parks, when engaging in strenuous physical activities in outdoor public places, at sports premises and fitness centres, etc.
• Further relaxation of dine-in service hours at catering premises to midnight, with the maximum number of persons allowed per table increased to 8; reopening of bars/pubs, with the opening hours until midnight/2am and maximum number of persons allowed per table at 4
Phase 3:
• Lifting of the restrictions on the maximum number of customers in terms of capacity limit, business/dine-in hours, maximum number of persons per group gathering, etc. at all catering premises (including bars/pubs) and scheduled premises
The Government Covid website is www.coronavirus.gov.hk
Flight Ban Ends 1 April 2022, Quarantine Rules Revised
With over 50% of Hong Kong’s population infected or recovering from Covid. What need is there for hotel quarantine (apart from hotel profits) unless a person fails a PCR test on arrival?
With effect from 1 April, the “flight ban” on the nine countries (Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) will be lifted.
Quarantine arrangements, under Cap. 599E, for all arrivals to be rationalised as follows:
Only Hong Kong Residents who are fully vaccinated can board a flight for Hong Kong.
A negative PCR-based nucleic acid test, taken within 48 hours of departure.
Confirmation of room reservation in a Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) for at least 7 nights.
“Test and hold” upon arrival in Hong Kong, where a rapid PCR-based nucleic acid test will be conducted; upon a negative test result, a 14-day Quarantine Order will be issued and designated transport taken to go to the DQH.
During the quarantine period, daily RATs will be conducted and PCR-based nucleic acid tests on Day 5 and (if still in the DQH) on Day 12.
If the results of Day 5 PCR-based nucleic acid test and Day 6 and 7 RATs are all negative, early discharge from the DQH will be allowed
If early discharge is opted for: self-monitoring for 7 days, with a PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted at a community testing centre on Day 12.
Otherwise: a PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted in the DQH on Day 12, followed by discharge from the DQH on Day 14 upon a negative result
If the result of the PCR-based nucleic acid test during “test and hold”, Day 5 or 12 PCR based nucleic acid test or daily RAT is positive, transfer to a community isolation hotel will be arranged with an Isolation Order issued.
The isolation and discharge arrangements will be the same as those for local cases in isolation, i.e. completion of isolation for leading a normal life upon Day 6 and 7 RAT negative results
The Government Covid website is www.coronavirus.gov.hk
Flight Ban Extended Until 20 April 2022
The Hong Kong Government has announced that the flight suspension for Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States of America will be extended to 20 April 2022.
All passenger flights from the nine countries are banned from landing in Hong Kong!
Anyone who has stayed in these countries for more than two hours within 14 days of their planned arrival will be prohibited from boarding any flight to Hong Kong.
The Government Covid website is www.coronavirus.gov.hk