Hong Kong kicks off Pop Culture Festival with 300,000 people expected to celebrate kung fu’s grip on city
- More than 20 programmes planned under theme of ‘Arts and Action’, according to secretary for culture and tourism Kevin Yeung
- ‘Hong Kong’s kung fu has fused artistic areas of cinema, literature and music, reflecting the city’s diverse and vibrant pop culture that is also revenue generating,’ he says.
Hong Kong’s Pop Culture Festival is expected to attract 300,000 people over four months, with this year’s iteration exploring the city’s rich history of classic martial arts novels and drama series, according to the organiser.
While a two-day music carnival officially kicks off the celebrations in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay on Saturday, some of the events falling under the umbrella of the festival have already started, some as early as last month.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said on Friday more than 20 programmes were planned under the theme of “Arts and Action”, which examined kung fu’s role in the city’s pop culture.
“Hong Kong’s kung fu has fused artistic areas of cinema, literature and music, reflecting the city’s diverse and vibrant pop culture that is also revenue generating,” he said.
“The government hopes that by shaping and promoting tourism in tandem with culture, Hong Kong’s pop culture can be appreciated by more, both at home and abroad, and a stronger sense of affinity toward Hong Kong’s culture can be built among local people.”
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is expecting 300,000 visitors, down from the 530,000 who attended in 2023, a drop that chief manager Doreen Lau Wing-yan said was due to the festival’s shorter length this year. The festival ran from April to December last year, but this time will last from April to July. She noted most programmes were free of charge in a bid to lure more visitors.
