Performing arts, fashion street and festive lights keep Campaign on the move (with photos)
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     A variety of performing arts events involving international performers will entertain visitors at the Freespace Fest 2013 on December 14 and 15.

     About 15 hours of free programmes will be staged including live music, dancing, literature, media art and parkour presented by 10 co-curators and more than 400 local and overseas artist units.

     The event will be held at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade from 1pm to 10.30pm on both days.

     The festival includes a premiere of "Compartmentalized", a collaborative dance production between Australia's Stalker Theatre and Hong Kong's Unlock Dancing Plaza. The event also sees the return of Grassfest" - an outdoor concert where festival-goers will be able to enjoy music on the lawn.

     A number of workshops will also be held. One of the world's leading parkour practitioners, Daniel Ilabaca, will lead workshops for budding parkours on both days, while Australia's Strut & Fret and Hong Kong Circus will jointly hold a contemporary circus workshop on December 14.

     The Freespace Fest aims to demonstrate the positive potential of performing arts in public space as well as to enhance the public's experience and appreciation of outdoor performances.

     Programme details and free admission tickets are available online. Please visit www.westkowloon.hk/en/ for information.

     "Freespace Fest 2013" is a "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign signature event under the "Vibrant Hong Kong" theme.

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     A section of Cheung Yee Street near Lai Chi Kok MTR station will be transformed into a fashion runway for the official opening of the Fashion Forward Festival on December 13.

     The 25-metre Celebrity Catwalk will be staged on the street with celebrities from the business, entertainment and fashion industries walking down the runway in outfits designed by Hong Kong fashion designers. The fashion show is free and everyone is welcome.

     Organised by Fashion Farm Foundation, the festival will run from December 12, 2013 to January 31, 2014.

     Among its many attractions are three concerts organised under the title "Fashion Music Night". The first concert will be held on December 13 when singers, performers and musicians will showcase fashion ensembles by budding Hong Kong designers.

     Another attraction is the workshop "Fashion Therapy" which will run from December 12, 2013 to January 31, 2014. Demonstrations at the workshop include hairstyles, make-up, fashion photography, styling and mix-and-match.

     Designers of local and overseas product brands will meet the public at the International Emporium from December 12 to 16. They will present their designs which are available for sale on the spot.

     Many festival events will also be held at the Fashion Farm Foundation office at D2 Place, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon. All events are open to the public free of charge except for the Media and Buyer Presentations.

     Information on the festival will be available from December 12 at the website www.fashionfarmfoundation.org. Enquiries can be made by email to info@fashionfarmfoundation.org or calling 2153 3357.

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     One of the main challenges for participants of the Hong Kong Duathlon Challenge 2013 is to turn calories into food for the city's needy. The races will take place on December 15 from 7am to 1pm.

     It is hoped that the calories burned by participants will be more than matched by the calories of food items to be donated to grassroots families in Tin Shui Wai with the help of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council. Food items will include rice, canned products and health drinks.

     Organised by Titan Triathlon, the duathlon seeks athletes aged 6 to 62 to take part in the running and cycling challenges along Kam Sheung Road, Yuen Long.

     Acclaimed triathlete Daniel Lee and local cyclist Alan Ho will lead the Foodsport College Team in the challenge.

     About 1 000 participants will be entered in one of four race categories - iKids, Super Sprint, Challenge or Relay.

     The race begins with a run ranging from 600 metres to 3 kilometres followed by cycling for between 3 and 30 kilometres, depending on the category. A total of 31 awards will be presented to winners of the four categories.

     For details, please visit www.hkchallenge.org or call 6080 4770.

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     Sha Tin district will mark the start of the holiday season as the lights are switched on at the 2013/2014 Sha Tin Festive Lighting Switch-on Ceremony at 6.30pm on December 14.

     Organised by the Planning Committee on Festive Lighting in Sha Tin, the ceremony will be held at the Main Plaza of Sha Tin Park. An array of colourful lights illuminating major landmarks and others installed along major roads in Sha Tin and Ma On Shan will be switched on.

     Live performances will follow the lighting ceremony, with singers Louis Cheung, Janice M Vidal, Kandy Wong, Joey Wong (JW), Sherman Chung and pop groups 3Think, goldEN, AOA and Fabel performing for the audience.

     Free tickets to the ceremony can be obtained at the Home Affairs Department's Sha Tin Public Enquiry Service Centre and its Ma On Shan Sub-office on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The organiser has also announced the Sha Tin Festive Lighting Photo Contest to encourage people to capture the festive lights through the camera lens.

     Photos should feature the colourful lights on Sha Tin's landmarks including Sand Martin Bridge, Banyan Bridge, Lek Yuen Bridge, Sha Tin Park, and Che Kung Temple.

     Entries can be in 12R prints or digital photos with 5-megapixels or more. The submission deadline is January 6, 2014 and there will be 11 awards with prizes ranging from $500 to $4,000.

     For details and rules of the competition, please visit website www.stfl.org .

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     Young people are encouraged to show off their singing talents at the Sky Pop Singing Contest, which will take place from mid-December, 2013 to early January 2014. The contest is for amateurs only.

     Organised by Hong Kong Southern District Community Association Limited, the contest provides a platform for young people to showcase their singing talent as well as offering opportunities for the promotion of social cohesion.

     Contestants can choose one of the four categories - Open, Junior, Creative and Group. The Open and Junior categories are for individuals, while the Group category is for rock bands or singing groups with at least two members. The Creative category offers budding composers and singers the chance to perform their own original compositions.

     The preliminary rounds will be held in December, with the Open category to take place on December 15 at Stanley Community Hall. The Junior category, for contestants aged 17 and below, will be held on December 29 at Lei Tung Community Hall in Ap Lei Chau. The Creative and Group contests will be held on December 28 at Wah Kwai Community Centre on Wah Kwai Estate in Pok Fu Lam.

     The finals will be held on January 4, 2014 at Ap Lei Chau Wind Tower Park.

     For admission tickets, please call 2552 6245.

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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 245 Partner Organisations have so far pledged support for the Campaign.

     Altogether, the Government and Partner Organisations are organising about 1 100 events and activities under the four 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, December 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:00

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