HONG KONG CHRONICLES — Saturday, 23rd December 2023
MY WEEK THAT WAS
CHILLY CHRISTMAS IN HONG KONG
A couple of weeks ago we were all complaining about the temperature, and we are doing it again. In the strangest year of weather I’ve experienced since living here (yes, I know, climate change), we were all sweating away in the mid-20Cs, and then the thermometer dropped by more than 10C in just one night. This morning, the Hong Kong Observatory recorded the coldest temperature so far this “winter”, with the mercury dipping to 8.1C. and it was even colder in other parts of the territory, with the temperature plunging to around 6 to 7 degrees.
The cold snap is expected to continue for a few more days, so we’ll all be rugged up to the nines for Christmas Day!
CHEERY CROWD CROSSING THE BORDERS
A little Christmas cheer, Hong Kong is expected to handle more than 9 million trips by people over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The Immigration Department on Tuesday said that more than 83 per cent of the anticipated 9.03 million trips would likely involve the city’s land-based crossing points over the two holidays, while the remainder would arrive via sea or air.
Up to 160,000 passengers are expected to go through Hong Kong airport each day during the next few days. The Airport Authority also said there will be more than 1,000 flights coming in and out of the SAR daily, with 760 of them carrying passengers.
The airport is currently handling over 960 flights per day, reaching 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with the busiest routes to Taipei, Shanghai and Bangkok.
BUBBLE TEA AND DIM SUM MAY BLOW INTO HONG KONG NEXT YEAR
Back to the Hong Kong Observatory with news of an online public vote for 20 names with Hong Kong characteristics for tropical cyclone next year. The public can choose from a list of short-listed names which include “Siu-lung,” the stage name of the late Bruce Lee; the four former and current pandas at Ocean Par;, popular food and drink such as milk tea and dim sum, and “sing-si” — referring to the traditional lion dance, among others.
Personally, I’m hoping “hoppfish” and “tree frog” will make the grade.
In the meantime, I wish you all a peaceful and joyous Christmas!
Until next week …
