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Hong Kong rope skippers wow crowds at Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festivals in Belgium and Ireland (with photos)
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     Crowds that turned out for the Dublin Hong Kong Dragon Boat Regatta in Dublin, Ireland on September 9 and 10 (Dublin time) and the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Antwerp, Belgium on September 16 (Antwerp time) were captivated by the skills of the new, talented professional rope skipping team from Hong Kong “S/L/A/S/H” whose members engaged with the public and showed them how to do the moves.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) brought the team of eight, called S/L/A/S/H, over from Hong Kong to add extra excitement and a novel attraction to the two dragon boat festivals, which have become firm favourites on the annual events calendars in Dublin and Antwerp.   

     The eight S/L/A/S/H’s performers (Mr Man Ka-koy, Mr Mok Wai-ho, Mr Cheung Pak-kan, Mr Lau Pan-hei, Mr Law Kwan-ho, Ms Cheuk Ching-yi, Ms Ho Yin-ting and Ms Chan Hiu-lam) are award-winners in various categories in Asian and World Rope Skipping Championships, and some having won World Champion titles. The team’s performance routine, which in addition to rope skipping includes power movements, gymnastics and dancing, entranced young and old alike.  

     In Dublin, Ireland, HKETO, Brussels was for the second time the title sponsor of the Hong Kong Dublin Dragon Boat Regatta, which took place over two days at the Grand Canal Dock. Co-organised by the Irish Dragon Boat Association and Plurabelle Paddlers and with the support of Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council, it attracted around 960 participants and 48 teams and two to three thousand visitors each day.   

     In Belgium’s port city of Antwerp, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival organised by the Rotary International, Antwerpen West is one of the city’s biggest annual events, attracting 36 teams of competitors and around 7 000 enthusiastic spectators and participants.  The HKETO, Brussels, the title sponsor of the event, entered two boats in the races.  The crew of Hong Kong Dragon comprised HKETO, Brussels staff and their family members and friends, while the Hong Kong International Paddlers had a crew of expats and locals.  Belgium’s University of Leuven which with the support of the Belgium-Hong Kong Society and the University of Gent that joined the race for the first time also entered paddlers.

     Visitors could get booklets and information about Hong Kong, including its many tourist attractions, at the Hong Kong booth at the dragon boat festivals in Dublin and Antwerp. They could also win souvenirs specially produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by answering simple questions about Hong Kong. They could also send colourful postcards showing dragon boat events in Hong Kong to their friends and family.  

     In addition to the performances at the dragon boat festivals in Dublin and Antwerp, S/L/A/S/H also gave demonstrations, workshops and performances in various sports halls and academic institutions.
 
Ends/Monday, September 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 22:53
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The Dublin Hong Kong Dragon Boat Regatta, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels for the second time, was held in Dublin, Ireland on September 9 and 10 (Dublin time). Photo shows visitors to the Hong Kong booth taking part in a quiz about Hong Kong to win prizes on September 9 (Dublin time).
The Dublin Hong Kong Dragon Boat Regatta, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels for the second time, was held in Dublin, Ireland on September 9 and 10 (Dublin time). Photo shows Dragon Dance at the Hong Kong Dublin Dragon Boat Regatta on September 9 (Dublin time).
The Dublin Hong Kong Dragon Boat Regatta, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels for the second time, was held in Dublin, Ireland on September 9 and 10 (Dublin time). Photo shows Dragon Boats on the Grand Canal in Dublin during the Hong Kong Dublin Dragon Boat Regatta on September 9 (Dublin time).
The Dublin Hong Kong Dragon Boat Regatta, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) for the second time, was held in Dublin, Ireland on September 9 and 10 (Dublin time). Photo shows the Deputy Representative of the HKETO, Brussels, Mr Sam Hui (front row, fourth left), presenting prizes at the Hong Kong Dublin Dragon Boat Regatta on September 9 (Dublin time).
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), was held in Antwerp, Belgium on September 16 (Antwerp time). Photo shows the Deputy Representative of the HKETO, Brussels, Miss Alice Choi (second left), officiating at the opening ceremony with the Alderman of the City of Antwerp responsible for the Port, Industry and Labour, Mr Marc Van Peel (first right); and the representative of the event organiser, Rotary Club Antwerp West,  , Mr Leo Van der Heyden (first left).
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), was held in Antwerp, Belgium on September 16 (Antwerp time). Photo shows the Hong Kong Dragons, one of the two teams of the HKETO, Brussels.
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, was held in Antwerp, Belgium on September 16 (Antwerp time). Photo shows a visitor to the Hong Kong booth trying her luck at a chopstick game, while other visitors seek information about Hong Kong for the quiz.
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, was held in Antwerp, Belgium on September 16 (Antwerp time). Photo shows the Hong Kong rope skipping team S/L/A/S/H performing at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival.
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, which was title sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, was held in Antwerp, Belgium on September 16 (Antwerp time). Photo shows the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Lam (second left) presenting the cup to the winning team. With her are the Alderman for City Development, Sports and Diamonds of the City of Antwerp, Mr Ludo van Campenhout (third left); and the representative of the event organiser, Rotary Club Antwerp West, , Mr Leo Van der Heyden (first left).