Hong Kong New Year Countdown Firework 2024 (Photo: Hong Kong Tourism Board)
Visitor Arrivals on New Year’s Eve Break 2023 Record and Exceed 220,000
HONG KONG, Jan 3 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the firework musical performance of “Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations” concluded successfully tonight (1 January 2024), bidding farewell to 2023 and welcoming 2024 in joy. The largest-ever countdown fireworks lasted for 12 minutes and was themed with the cycling seasons, surprising locals and visitors alike with magnificent bliss.
The holidays attracted many visitors from around the world. As of 10 pm, more than 223,000 visitors arrived in Hong Kong on New Year’s Eve (31 December), breaking the record of daily visitor arrivals in 2023.
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) — Hong Kong, known for its distinctive East-meets-West culture is marked by spectacular celebratory activities and auspicious family feasts during the Chinese New Year (CNY).
This year, there is even more to celebrate as the fifth day (or Chor Five) falls on Valentine’s Day, enabling visitors to extend their CNY getaway with a romantic adventure in which the city is ideal for couples to create a unique and timeless memory.
According to Hong Kong Tourism Board in a statement, visitors are encouraged to start planning an unforgettable Valentine’s Day in one of Asia’s most romantic cities, from exploring the city on a swoon-worthy photoshoot to creative workshops for crafty couples and dinners at the hottest restaurants in town.
Couples can narrate their love story through lenses with a photoshoot, where one can don qipao (traditional Chinese garments) and travel back in time to feel the romance of old Hong Kong while capturing the sweetest moments with their valentine.
Amid the hustle and bustle of the signature local dai pai dong (open-air food stall), couples can recreate scenes from Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love and keep the romance flowing on an iconic double-decker Hong Kong tram.
Meanwhile, at the revitalised Central Market, they can snap stunning silhouettes and candid smiles on the grand terrazzo staircase, then stroll hand-in-hand in Hollywood Road or up the steep stone steps of Pottinger Street, one of the city’s oldest lanes, to stately Tai Kwun.
Visitors can also spend their Valentine’s Day bonding over one-of-a-kind activities to create extraordinary gifts signifying their remarkable Hong Kong moment with loved ones by engaging in a wide variety of hands-on experience in town, like bespoke perfume making workshop, neon light art workshop and rock candy workshop, among others.
Furthermore, visitors are able to experience the city’s world-class dining scene with a special Valentine’s Day feast at one of the city’s hottest tables, such as Sabatini Ristorante Italiano in ifc mall, for authentic Italian fare.
The CNY fun continues until the 15th day (or Chor 15, on Feb 24), culminating with the Lantern Festival. In ancient times, the festival was akin to a Chinese Valentine’s Day because single women were allowed to roam freely and meet potential suitors without supervision.
In addition, travellers are welcome to join the local celebrations, while a vibrant array of activities in the city awaits, including auspicious dragon dances and annual lantern displays with much more to be discovered during CNY and Valentine’s Day in Hong Kong.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) — The Sanya Central Business District (CBD) – Financial Expansion and Opening-up Pilot Zone (the Modern Financial Industry Cluster) was officially unveiled at the Third Sanya International Wealth Management Summit, held at the Hainan Free Trade Port in China.
According to the Sanya CBD in a statement, this is the Hainan Free Trade Port’s only financial expansion and opening-up pilot zone and the only approved modern financial industry cluster.
It aims to implement the cross-border finance and modern finance development ideas, undertake high-level opening up pilot policies, facilitate the growth of industries such as cross-border insurance, cross-border asset management, Qualified Foreign Limited Partnership (QFLP) and Qualified Domestic Limited Partner (QDLP).
A key event focused on Sanya CBD, the summit attracted over 100 representatives from China’s political, academic and business sectors, discussing in depth about the opportunities and practical paths of science and innovation finance, consumer finance and wealth management, among others.
As a crucial growth hub in the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, Sanya City has implemented supportive incentives to boost the development of the financial industry in recent years, receiving sustained and steady progress.
In this process, the Sanya CBD has achieved evident accomplishments such as establishing and operating Hainan International Clearing House, Hainan International Commodity Exchange, as well as Hainan International Carbon Emissions Trading Center.
The CBD has also attracted nearly 200 International venture capital institutions and private equity fund management companies, including Sequoia China, Hillhouse Capital and IDG.
Besides, Hainan’s first S fund and Hainan’s first commodity swap clearing business have been launched in the district, and Hainan’s first special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) listing and merger have been successfully completed.
On December 27, the classic Wuxi Opera “The Pearl Pagoda” was performed in Nanjing, featuring seven generations of distinguished opera artists from Wuxi Opera Troupe of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the troupe’s establishment, according to the Information Office of Jiangsu Province.
“The Pearl Pagoda” tells the story of a young man, Fang Qing, who, facing family decline, is ridiculed after borrowing from his aunt. His cousin gives him the family heirloom, a pearl pagoda, to help him succeed in his studies. The story is rich in traditional Chinese values and distinctive local characteristics. Over 400 years, it has been widely spread through various traditional Chinese artistic forms including Pingtan, Wuxi Opera, Kunqu Opera, and farce.
The new version of Wuxi Opera “The Pearl Pagoda,” creatively interpreted by Jiangsu Wuxi Opera Troupe in the year of 2000, features excellent script and seamless cooperation among performers. It blends the common with the refined, satisfying the aesthetic needs of audiences at different groups. This classic production, after adaptation, has been hailed as the “Pearl Pagoda Phenomenon.”
Subsequently, Zhou Dongliang, a Wuxi Opera actor who gained fame for his portrayal of Fang Qing, won the Plum Blossom Award, the highest Chinese award for performing arts. He is revered by fans as the “Wuxi Opera Prince.” Since 2010, he has been serving as the director of Jiangsu Wuxi Opera Troupe, and the troupe’s performances have gained widespread recognition.
Zhou Dongliang mentioned that the successful innovative adaptation of “The Pearl Pagoda” implies the need to move beyond traditional plays or specific scripts. In recent years, Jiangsu Wuxi Opera Troupe has created numerous original, traditional, and new plays, accumulating nearly 300 scripts as the foundation for the troupe’s development. They have also expanded beyond the limitations of themes restricted to romance between gifted scholars and beauties. For instance, they produced “Dafengge,” a historical drama about Liu Bang, founder of Han Dynasty, demonstrating that the troupe has adequate talents to handle such large-scale productions.
As one of the most representative regional opera genres in east China’s Jiangsu Province, Wuxi Opera originated from the southern shores of Taihu Lake, with a history of over two centuries. It is included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China. Rooted in the Wuxi dialect, Wuxi Opera possesses a rich cultural heritage of Wu culture and continues to captivate audiences in the Yangtze River Delta.
Founded in 1953, Jiangsu Wuxi Opera Troupe has cultivated a large number of Wuxi Opera performing artists, such as Yao Cheng, Wang Lanying, Shen Peihua, Ni Tongfang, Zhou Dongliang, and more. They have excavated, created, and performed over 200 productions.
Currently, Zhou holds the position as Chairman of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group, tasked with promoting the revival of 10 art troupes, including the Wuxi Opera Troupe.
Taking Wuxi opera as an example, the interest class dedicated in Wuxi opera over ten years, has expanded to places like Jiangyin, Yixing, and Wuxi, scouting many talented individuals. The class has also cultivated a large group of young Wuxi opera fans, becoming a vibrant force among the audience. Zhou Dongliang is committed to uniting Wuxi Opera troupes from various regions, helping each other and jointly protecting the art of Wuxi Opera.
“In recent years, Wuxi Opera has been developing in a positive direction, and I am confident in its future,” said Zhou.
Source: The Information Office of Jiangsu Province
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 (Bernama) — St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Terrance Drew has delivered a comprehensive analysis of the nation’s fiscal performance and outlined future economic plans during his 2024 Budget Address.
The central theme of the 2024 budget speech, “Marching Forward on the Journey to a Sustainable Island State”, underscored the government’s commitment to transforming into a sustainable island state.
Dr Drew outlined the seven pillars forming the foundation of a sustainable island state, namely, water security; energy transition; food security; sustainability industry; sustainable settlements; circular economy; and social protection.
According to a statement, these pillars serve as the focal points for the 2024 budget address, laying the groundwork for sustainable development in St Kitts and Nevis.
Dr Drew also acknowledged the achievements in tourism that received international recognition, positioning St Kitts and Nevis as a prominent destination in the Eastern Caribbean.
The 2024 Budget Address reflects the government’s commitment to sustainable development, fiscal responsibility, and the well-being of St Kitts and Nevis’ citizens. The outlined initiatives and improvements aim to strengthen the nation’s economy, infrastructure and overall prosperity.
Furthermore, he highlighted the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme’s remarkable contribution, exceeding budget expectations by 54.9 per cent, as well as emphasised the importance of supporting the CBI Programme for sustainable economic development.
The Prime Minister also announced the imminent launch of a Contributory Pension Plan, aimed at enhancing the welfare and financial security of public sector employees, in which the plan is strategically designed for a secure and sustainable pension system.
Meanwhile, the economic benefits of a higher minimum wage were also highlighted, empowering workers and stimulating local businesses, in which effective Jan 1, 2024, the minimum wage will rise from EC$9 per hour to EC$10.75 per hour, reflecting the government’s dedication to improving the financial well-being of minimum wage earners. (EC$1=RM1.72)
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