Santa Staycation Stamps Available Today

Ignoring the National Security Law, Wuhan virus quarantine and social distancing rules Santa Claus has come to town! Hongkong Post launches it’s fourth set of Christmas stamps (previous issues were in 2002, 2007 and 2014).

The set of four stamps features Santa enjoying a short staycation – twelve days, not one less – while his new hybrid electric/reindeer sleigh is recharging. Savouring Chinese tea and dim sum, playing on the swings in a children’s playground, practising Tai Chi on the Victoria Harbour waterfront Santa finds the ‘Worlds Greatest City’ much changed before jumping on a Ding Ding to deliver presents and seasonal blessings of hope to the people of Hong Kong.

The $2 stamp and self-adhesive stamp sheetlet sees Santa savouring a Hong Kong-style Christmas feast of yum cha. On the stamp sheetlet, Santa is sharing dim sum from a cart with the homeless.

$3.7 stamp and self-adhesive stamp sheetlet, Santa and Rudolph chill out on the swings reminiscing about pre-Covid Christmas and free speech.

The $4.9 stamp has Santa Claus join his gingerbread men friends for a Tai Chi workout on the Victoria Harbour waterfront. The $4.9 stamp sheetlet has Santa and the gingerbread man enjoying a mental workout over a game of Chinese chess.

$5 stamp and self-adhesive stamp sheetlet – with his reindeer recovering from being pepper-sprayed while trying to park his sleigh in Central – has Santa taking a ding ding to finish delivering his presents…

No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a trip on the Star Ferry, Santa crosses the harbour to bring love, peace and joy to those unable to sit at home with piles of cash.

The assorted Christmas stamps and philatelic products can be bought at any post office or ordered online here

Lunar New Year Fireworks Cancelled

Home Affairs Secretary Lau Kong-wah announced that the fireworks display in Victoria Harbour, traditionally held on the second day of the Lunar New Year has been cancelled for security reasons.

It appears that the government is unable to exert enough control on the HK Police to ensure public safety. And that more video of police beating and arresting random people will further erode the tourism industry.

A mainland visitor, when asked if she was afraid of coming to Hong Kong, answered: “I’m afraid of being attacked or arrested for no reason”.

National Day Fireworks Cancelled

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department have announced that the National Day fireworks in celebration of the 70th Anniversary of China’s formation on 1 October have been cancelled for ‘public safety’ reasons.

The last time the fireworks were cancelled was in 2014 during the Umbrella Movement.

Floating Companion

Florentijn Hofman’s giant yellow floating duck was the talk of the town in 2013, what will Hongkongers make of ‘Companion’ the 37-metre-long inflatable version of American street artist Kaws signature character which will float in the middle of Victoria Harbour later this month during Art Basel.

The 10-day waterborne installation starts on the 22 March and Hong Kong is the latest stop for the touring exhibition dubbed ‘Kaws:Holiday’. Companion will be anchored in the harbour by a metal base weighing 40 tons, with the project costing an insane HK$10 million.

Water Taxis on Victoria Harbour

Victoria Harbour, even today’s current shrunken version, is one of the most beautiful in the world. Something that we all enjoy looking at, yet beyond the Star Ferry very few people ever get to travel upon or use it.

There are increasing attempts and initiatives to make the harbour more available and user friendly among these is the concept of re-introducing ‘water taxis’.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), sponsored by Designing Hong Kong and the Harbour Business Forum is conducting a survey gauging the demand for a water taxi system for Victoria Harbour.

On-demand small boats, often known as walla-wallas or kaidos, offer rides in some of the typhoon shelters such Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan and to-or-from destinations around Lantau and Sai Kung.

What are your views on a water-taxi service between destinations along Victoria Harbour? Take a few minutes to fill in this survey

Survey: https://goo.gl/hhW4g1

New Year’s Eve Fireworks @ Victoria Harbour

Hong Kong welcomed in the New Year with a massive fireworks display enjoyed by throngs of people on both sides of the iconic Victoria Harbour. Happy New Year!

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/New-Years-Fireworks-Victoria-Harbour-31-December-2017/i-jKD3MCz

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/New-Years-Fireworks-Victoria-Harbour-31-December-2017/i-5XwrqFd

New Year Fireworks

Starting 2018 with a bang, the traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks will continue the current trend of bigger is better as the display will stretch 1.1km along Victoria Harbour. Launched from barges on the harbour as well as the rooftops of five buildings on Hong Kong Island the display will be to quote the HKTB “Dazzling our skyline with vibrant colors”. 

This year’s countdown celebrations will mercifully be the final event in the drawn out year long series, where much was spent and little of merit organised to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR.

For the first time the display, synchronised with music composed by Chiu Tsang Hei, will feature a European fireworks maker. The “Magical Stardust” segment mimicking dancing fairies scattering magical stardust over Victoria Harbour starts at around the 6 minute mark and is meant to signify New Year’s blessings to the city.

The shooting stars will start at 11pm for you to make a New Year’s wish and if you have braved the multitudes in Tsim Sha Tsui you might be able to see a performance by Australian performing arts group “Strange Fruit” near the Star Ferry from 10pm.

Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations 2018
Date: Midnight, 31 December, 2018
Venue: Victoria Harbour
Tickets: Free

Happy New Year Hong Kong

Hong Kong welcomed in 2017 with a vibrant firework display on the iconic Victoria Harbour. The traditional 8 minute display extended to 10 minutes included a ’20 gun salute’ to announce the start of the year of the 20th anniversary celebrations for the founding of the Hong Kong SAR.