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New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's vibrant culture at dragon boat festival (with photos)
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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990.

     This year's festival marks the 40th anniversary of Hong Kong's gift of teak wood dragon boats to cities across North America, including New York City, introducing this centuries-old Chinese tradition to the continent. This legacy takes centre stage this weekend with a special invitational race to commemorate the anniversary, alongside a display of the traditional teak wood dragon boats for visitors throughout the weekend.

     At the festival opening ceremony on August 8 (New York time), the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, reflected on this legacy and how the HKDBF-NY, one of New York City's largest multicultural festivals, has brought people together for 36 years, proving that sport has a unique power to connect and unite people.

     Ms Ho said the festival is a celebration of heritage, resilience and teamwork, noting that the vigour, determination and camaraderie shown by the competing athletes reflect the same qualities that define Hong Kong – a cosmopolitan and vibrant gateway city that connects business, talent and ideas, while remaining firmly rooted in its cultural heritage.

     Ms Ho added that the festival is a testament to the enduring friendship between Hong Kong and New York and the United States, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties. "Our office remains committed to building on this relationship in the years ahead," she said.

     This weekend's festivities also coincide with a milestone moment for dragon boating worldwide, as the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) recently relocated its global headquarters back to Hong Kong in July, marking a homecoming to the birthplace of the modern dragon boat movement. The IDBF's World Dragon Boat Racing Championships will also return to Hong Kong next year for the first time since 1997. Ms Ho noted that this development was a vote of confidence in Hong Kong as a world-class hub for international sport.

     Ahead of the race weekend, Ms Ho and representatives of the festival's major sponsors gathered in Hudson Yards on July 15 for the traditional "awakening" ceremony, dotting the eyes of the dragons in a ritual believed to bring good fortune to the racers. Then on August 7, the festival's organising committee took the celebration to Wall Street, ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, a nod to the festival's place in New York's cultural and sporting calendar.

     Over the two-day festival, more than 170 teams and over 1 800 paddlers battled for the podium in front of a strong crowd. Beyond the races, the New York ETO had a festival booth to promote Hong Kong to visitors. Visitors all enjoyed delectable Hong Kong street food, vibrant cultural and musical performances, alongside martial arts and arts and crafts demonstrations throughout the festival grounds.
 
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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. Photo shows the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho (front row, fourth left); the Deputy Consul General of the People's Republic of China in New York, Mr Ma Xiaoxiao (front row, fifth left); the Chairman of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, Mr Henry Wan (front row, third left), and other dignitaries officiating at the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the festival on August 8 (New York time).
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. Speaking at the opening ceremony on August 8 (New York time), the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho (right) said the festival is a testament to the enduring friendship between Hong Kong and New York and the United States, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. Photo shows the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho (third right), and the Deputy Consul General of the People's Republic of China in New York, Mr Ma Xiaoxiao (second right), taking part in the eye-dotting ceremony marking the opening of the festival on August 8 (New York time).
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. Over the two-day festival, more than 170 teams and over 1 800 paddlers battled for the podium in front of a strong crowd.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. Over the two-day festival, the New York ETO had a festival booth to promote Hong Kong to visitors.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. Over the two-day festival, the New York ETO had a festival booth to promote Hong Kong to visitors.
The HKETONY Dragon Riders, the dragon boat team of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York, took part in the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York on August 8-9 (New York time).
The HKETONY Dragon Riders, the dragon boat team of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York, took part in the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York on August 8-9 (New York time).
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. The Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho (front row, fifth left), joins invited guests in the dragon boat eye-dotting ceremony in New York’s Hudson Yards on July 15 (New York time), to launch the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990. The Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho (front row, fourth left), joins the Chairman of the HKDBF-NY, Henry Wan (front row, fifth left), Head of Corporate Affairs at New York Stock Exchange, Will Goodwin (front row, sixth left), and other HKDBF-NY board members to ring in the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on August 7 (New York time) to usher in the HKDBF-NY.