Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Let me wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoy the festival with family and friends. Many people, I believe, will go out tonight to appreciate the beauty of the full moon and celebrate the festive occasion. In the coming two months starting from end-September, the Development Bureau (DEVB) will, together with several organisations, hold a series of activities at three harbourfront sites in Wan Chai, Belcher Bay of Kennedy Town and Kwun Tong on weekends as part of the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign, bringing people together to experience the vibrant and enchanting nightlife at the waterfronts against the spectacular views of Victoria Harbour.

Given that this year’s National Day falls immediately after the Mid-Autumn Festival, a series of activities under themes such as Hong Kong’s nostalgic features, disability inclusion and creative arts and culture will be held at the three harbourfront sites during the long weekend. The activities to be held include music performances, workshops, games and outdoor movie screenings. “Check-in” installations and booths selling special snacks and products will also be set up. As the DEVB has provided rent-free venues with setups, the co-organisers will not demand any rent or charge other fees from the stall operators. Members of the public will also be offered free admission to the venues.

This time, I have invited the Commissioner for Harbourfront and representatives of the co-organisers to talk about the characteristics of the Hong Kong harbourfront and the details of the activities respectively.

Victoria Harbour, a unique brand of Hong Kong

The Commissioner for Harbourfront, Ms LEE Hoi-lun, Leonie, says that Victoria Harbour is a unique brand of Hong Kong, with its night view recognised as one of the best three night views in the world. The Victoria harbourfront is also an experimental ground embracing new attempts. Some harbourfront sites have been seeking to break through the established framework by introducing, for example, a floating stage, a fence-free design and by promoting water-friendly culture, in the hope of providing venues for daytime and nighttime activities and bringing vibrancy to the harbourfront areas.

Belcher Bay Promenade, Kennedy Town – K-Farm Mid-Autumn Night Market cum K-Fest Promenade Concert

Located at the Belcher Bay harbourfront, K-Farm, which is operated by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), is the first urban leisure farm in Hong Kong that not only combines hydroponics, aquaponics and organic farming but also provides public education and community services. Project Director of K-Farm, Ms Dora HO, says that K-farm is going to hold the K-Farm Mid-Autumn Night Market cum K-Fest Promenade Concert during the long holiday of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. For K-Market, there are, among others, booths selling snacks and products, handicraft workshops, and game booths; free mooncakes and toys will also be distributed by the NGOs invited to join this event. For K-Fest, local bands are invited to perform music of different styles.

She says that the participating stall operators are offered free rental concession in a bid to support local businesses and encourage people from different sectors to start business.

Wan Chai harbourfront – Waterfront Carnival@Mid-Autumn

Waterfront Carnival@Mid-Autumn in Wan Chai is jointly organised by the DEVB, the Hong Kong Network for the Promotion of Inclusive Society (HKNPIS) and the Fringe Club. The representative of HKNPIS and event co-ordinator, Mr Alex MAK, says that the carnival is a funfair featuring a mix of Hong Kong culture, art, music and technology for local and foreign visitors. The programmes, which include drone shows, movie nights and booths selling Hong Kong street snacks and local specialties, will offer an opportunity to local and foreign visitors for experiencing the history and cultural life of Hong Kong. Besides, persons with disabilities are invited to perform a charity show in the carnival. By providing a stage for them to show their talents, it is hoped that members of the public can appreciate their abilities, thereby disseminating the message of “Social Inclusion and Art Everyday”.

Art Consultant of the Fringe Club, Mr Daniel CHUN, says that they are going to hold the “Uniquely Hong Kong” Art Exhibition at the Wan Chai harbourfront, with various artists invited to participate in the music and dance performances. One special feature is the mobile stage transformed from a 40-foot long container. He hopes that the art events of “Uniquely Hong Kong” can be set up at different venues through this mobile stage in the future.

Kwun Tong Promenade – Youth Art Festival x Mid-Autumn Night Market

Manager of the HKALPS Limited, Mr Nelson YEUNG, says that HKALPS is going to hold the Youth Art Festival x Mid-Autumn Night Market at the VESSEL 03 site beneath the Kwun Tong Bypass. In addition to street performances, there are light painting projection and LED neon “check-in” spots beneath the bridge pier of the Kwun Tong Bypass, drawing people to appreciate the art of light and shadow. This event will not only bring people together at the Kwun Tong Promenade for three consecutive nights, but also provide free booths for people of different trades to promote local brands and handicrafts.

It is our hope that, through this series of activities, all of you could appreciate the beautiful views of Victoria Harbour and experience the vigour and uniqueness of the harbourfront promenades. In the coming two months, these three harbourfront sites will continue to see a series of wonderful activities. Please stay tuned to the DEVB’s website (https://www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/harbourfront_activities/index.html) and join the harbourfront activities with family and friends.