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Thousands of people will soak up the atmosphere at the spectacular and action-packed Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival on Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront from June 21 to 23.
The Carnival is a signature event in support of the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign and is being organised by the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association and co-organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
A total of 199 teams (163 local teams and 36 overseas teams) from 11 countries/regions will take part in the three-day Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races.
The Celebrity Bathtub Race has been added to the Carnival this year with Legislative Council members, leading business figures and artistes taking part.
In the Fancy Dress Race, paddlers will dress in creative costumes to compete for the Best Costume Award.
A beer festival will be held in the nearby Urban Council Centenary Garden, where revellers can enjoy chilled beer while watching live performances by Taiwanese rock singer Wu Bai and his band China Blue, Hong Kong bands Sugar Club and 3Think, Edmond Tong and many others. Admission is free.
Carnival details can be found at www.DiscoverHongKong.com.¡@
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The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will stage an event at Tsuen Wan on June 22 to mark Food Safety Day 2013.
Food Safety Day is aimed at promoting messages on safe food products and health, such as sourcing food from reliable suppliers and choosing healthy food.
The event kicks off at 2pm with the opening of two game booths at the Event Hall, UG/F, Citywalk, Tsuen Wan. The main ceremony will start at 3pm, during which representatives of food trades associations will be invited to pledge their commitment by signing the Food Safety Charter.
During the ceremony, winners of a photo competition will be announced and presented with trophies and prizes. Celebrities will be invited to join talks on food safety and to give singing performances.
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Athletes and students are looking forward to the opening of new facilities by the Hong Kong Sports Institute on June 20.
The new facilities will enable the institute to provide state-of-the-art sports training to elite athletes, raising the standard of local sports competitions.
The new facilities include a full-size international standard indoor swimming pool, a boathouse, a multi-purpose sports hall which houses a 12-lane tenpin bowling centre, a 1,454-square-metre wushu hall and four squash courts.
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On June 19, the Yan Chai Hospital will hold the "Kickoff Ceremony in Celebration of the Anniversary of the HKSAR - Yan Chai Fortune Rice in Care of the Elderly" event at the podium next to Shek Fong House at Shek Wai Kok Estate, Tsuen Wan.
Immediately after the opening ceremony, 50 volunteers will deliver about 1,000 fortune rice bags to elderly residents who live alone at Shek Wai Kok Estate. The hospital plans to distribute 60,000 fortune rice bags to elderly people living in other districts during June and July.
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The Robocon 2013 Hong Kong Contest will be held at Ocean View Court, Cyberport, Pok Fu Lam, on the afternoon of June 23.
During the contest, automatic and manual robots designed and made by university students will be required to carry out some symbolic tasks of environmental protection and fulfil the theme of this year's event - "The Green Planet".
Details of the contest are available on the website: robocon.etvonline.tv/2013/index_eng.html.¡@
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Among the many activities under the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign this week are two events organised by the Hong Chi Association. From June 19 to 30, the association will set up the Community Outreach Exhibition in the Departure Hall, Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport. The Community Outreach Carnival will be held at the MacPherson Playground in Mong Kok on June 22.
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All these events support the "Hong Kong: Our Home" public participation campaign, which aims to inject positive energy into society, foster social cohesion and promote care, mutual help and solidarity in the community.
More than 220 Partner Organisations have so far pledged their support for the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign.
Altogether, the Government and Partner Organisations are organising more than 700 events/activities under the four supporting themes of the Campaign from the end of April to the end of December this year.
Full details of the Campaign can be found on the website www.hkourhome.gov.hk.
Ends/Sunday, June 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:00
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