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The 2013 Bun Carnival will stage its grand finale, the Bun Scrambling Competition, at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, on the night of May 17 (Friday). A total of 12 finalists will vie for the championships in the men's and women's teams.
As one of the highlights of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival and a well-known traditional festive event in Hong Kong, the Bun Scrambling Competition this year is also one of the events of the "Vibrant Hong Kong" theme under the city-wide "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign launched by the Government last month. During the competition, athletes will try their best to snatch the lucky buns on the bun tower, signifying the vitality and strength of the Hong Kong people.
Trophies will be awarded to the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in the men's team event, the champion in the women's team event and the winning teams in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay. A new award - "Full Pockets of Lucky Buns" - will be introduced this year to commend the participant who grabs the most buns.
The Bun Scrambling Competition, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will start at midnight on May 18 (Saturday). An opening ceremony to launch the competition will be held half an hour earlier. As May 18 falls on a weekend, a large number of locals and visitors are expected to visit Cheung Chau and watch this popular annual event. The organisers, together with the Islands District Council, the Islands District Office, the Police and the Transport Department, will implement various measures to maintain public order on that night. Detailed arrangements were announced at a joint press conference today (May 8).
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, Mr Yung Chi-ming; the Chief Leisure Manager (New Territories West) of the LCSD, Ms Dilys Cheung; Member of the Islands District Council Ms Lee Kwai-chun; the Assistant District Officer (Islands), Mr Niki Kwok; the Divisional Commander (Cheung Chau) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Ms Vicky Wong; and Senior Transport Officer of the Transport Department Mr Yuen Wing-cheong attended the press conference.
Ms Cheung said that four spectator zones will be set up on that night at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, which can accommodate about 1,650 people.
"Those who are interested in watching the competition at the soccer pitch are requested to queue up at Pak She First Lane, next to Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road for getting admission tickets. The distribution of tickets will start from 10pm. Each person can obtain one ticket on a first-come, first-served basis while tickets last. Spectators who have got their tickets should wait for instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers for admission, which is expected to start from 10.30pm. Spectators should enter Zone 1 to Zone 4 in sequence," Ms Cheung said.
Notices will be put up at Central Pier 5 informing the public of the schedule and arrangements of the event. Notices and enquiry counters will also be set up at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier and the entrance of the Pak Tai Temple Playground, where staff will be on hand to address public enquiries.
Ms Wong said police officers would be deployed outside Pak Tai Temple Playground for crowd management. She called on the public to co-operate and follow instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers. She also reminded them to be patient in crowded places.
About the arrangements for public transport services, Mr Yuen said the Transport Department would closely monitor the situation that night and would keep in close contact with ferry and bus companies to make necessary and appropriate arrangements to meet public demand.
He added that as many people would be leaving Cheung Chau after the event, New World First Ferry would arrange an additional ferry trip from Cheung Chau to Central at 1.15am next Saturday.
The bus companies will operate a special cross-harbour bus route, 104R, running from Central Pier 5 to Mong Kok from about 1.10am to 2.30am next Saturday. Overnight bus services departing from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Central, will be re-routed to operate via Central Pier 5 from midnight to about 2.30am for passengers' convenience. These routes are N8X (to Siu Sai Wan), N90 (to South Horizons), N182 (to Kwong Yuen, Sha Tin) and N619 (to Shun Lee, Kwun Tong).
Speaking on rescue operations during any possible emergencies, Mr Kwok said St John Hospital would make appropriate manpower arrangements on that day for provision of accident and emergency services, while the Hong Kong East Cluster of the Hospital Authority will render assistance when necessary. The Government Flying Service will also deploy helicopters and strengthen their manpower.
To attract more members of the public to participate in this festive event, the Climbing Carnival will be held at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, from noon to 6pm on May 12 (Sunday). There will be a splendid array of activities including a climbing participation event, in which visitors can enjoy the fun of bun tower climbing, and a relay competition, in which local tertiary institutions, government departments and commercial and industrial organisations will be invited to compete against each other. Activities ranging from game stalls and handicrafts to variety shows will also be organised. Other highlights on the day will include a Wishing Bun Tower erected at the soccer pitch as well as displays of winning works of the student colouring and drawing competitions.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the LCSD, the 2013 Bun Carnival is presented with the support of the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office and the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union, and sponsored by Lukfook Jewellery, A.S. Watsons Water and the Islands District Council.
For enquiries on the above activities, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the department's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:26
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