HONG KONG CHRONICLES — Friday, 9th June 2023
𝗠𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦 — 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
There has been a spate of horrific violence in Hong Kong over the past week, which I am not going to report. So, ready yourself for a non-aggressive read.
𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗢 𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗬!
Not one, but two giant yellow rubber ducks, created by artist Florentijn Hofman, swam into the harbour today, off Tamar Park.
The inflatable yellow ducks, 18 meters high, will make a splash on the harbour for two weeks.
Mr Hofman’s first “Rubber Duck” sculpture arrived in Hong Kong ten years ago. Inspired by a world map and rubber duck he has created his installations around the world since 2007.
Dubbed “Double Ducks,” Mr Hofman says his pair of ducks represent “twice the fun, double the happiness.”
𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡.
According to Bloomberg, Hong Kongers have been quick to download a song associated with the 2019 protests after the government sought to get the courts to outlaw the unofficial anthem on Monday. The top 10 slots on Apple’s iTunes charts in the city on Wednesday were filled with variations of “Glory to Hong Kong.”
If successful the court injunction will prohibit individuals with criminal intent from performing, broadcasting, printing, publishing, selling, distributing, displaying or reproducing the song, including on internet-based platforms.
The government statement released on Tuesday clarified that a court order would prevent individuals from playing the song if they had seditious intent or if the song was likely to be mistaken for Hong Kong’s national anthem. The statement also said that knowingly authorising, permitting or allowing others to commit or participate in any of the aforementioned acts would be prohibited.
𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗔𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗦.
Hong Kong has ended its four-year reign as the most expensive city globally for expatriates — surpassed by New York which took first place, according to a new survey.
ECA International’s latest “Cost of Living” research ranked 207 cities based on a basket of day-to-day goods and services commonly purchased by assignees. That includes food, utilities, public transport and basic needs such as household goods.
Still, Hong Kong retained its position as the most expensive location in Asia. Yay us!
𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞.
After a four-year gap, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races are set to return to Victoria Harbour on 24 and 25 June.
According to the Tourism Board, the festivities will be joined by 4,000 athletes, with 25% of them coming from outside the SAR. The teams will compete for the newly created Hong Kong-Macau Trophy and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Championship. Welcome back splashers!
Until next week …
