Fifa World Cup: France and Croatia fans gear up to watch Moscow final in Hong Kong, communities coming together for a ‘common dream’
House parties and get-togethers for city’s large French contingent, while dozens of its fewer than 50 Croatians expected at screening of match which has ‘equal significance to declaring independence’
Frenchwoman Fanny Riou had bought face paint and plastic sunglasses in the red, white and blue of her national flag, and on Saturday was eagerly awaiting the World Cup final between her team and Croatia the following night.
Riou, 30, who works for a travel agency, planned to watch with 800 fellow France fans on the big screen in the grand ballroom of the Kerry Hotel in Kowloon, at an event organised by the Union of French Expats (UFE).
“This is a great opportunity for the country to gather around a common dream,” she said.
And she was not the only one; a number of optimistic French nationals across Hong Kong said they were gearing up to watch their country win the title in Russia on Sunday.
The city’s French massively outnumber local Croatians. Currently, 20,000 French citizens live in Hong Kong, accounting for 0.2 per cent of the population, according to the national consulate here. In contrast, it is estimated there are fewer than 50 Croatians living and working in the city.
