in 2014 Events In June, French sculptor Paulo Grangeon’s 1,600 papier mâché pandas, one for each of the 1,600 giant pandas left in the wild, came to Hong Kong as part of a world tour to raise funds for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation. Among the places they visited in Hong Kong was Ocean Park. (Photo courtesy of Ocean Park Hong Kong) 1 5 2 3 4 1. The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung (first left, second row), at the APEC Economic Leaders’ meeting in Beijing in November. 2. The Chief Executive meets the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, at Government House in September. 3. The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, addresses the 'Think Asia, Think Hong Kong' symposium in Paris in October. 4. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, launches the ‘Bless Hong Kong’ campaign in February. 6 5. The Chief Executive launches the Shanghai-Hong Kong 7 Stock Connect in November. 6. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen (third right), at the inauguration of the China Maritime Arbitration Commission's Hong Kong arbitration centre in November. 7. The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing (third left), and the Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Mr John Scanlon (second left), at the launch ceremony for the destruction of confiscated ivory in May. 1 3 2 4 3 1. Stars and crew meet the media at the world premiere of Transformers: Age of Extinction in June. 2. The Hong Kong Observation Wheel, a 60-metre high Ferris wheel, opened on the Central waterfront in December. 3. PMQ, a creative industries centre which was previously the Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters, was officially opened in June and staged various activities, including this Night Market. 4. The MTR West Island Line connecting Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town opened in 4 December. 1 1. The Hong Kong team won the FISAC World Rope Skipping Championships in August. 2. Lok Kwan-hoi celebrates winning the Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls at the Asian Games in South Korea in September. (Photo courtesy of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China) 2 ‘Occupy Movement For 79 days from September to December’ protesters blocked roads in Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. This is the protest site at Admiralty, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Central Government Offices (CGO) at the right. 4 1 6 4. The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung (third left), and the Chief Secretary for Administration, 2 Mrs Carrie Lam (third right), brief the media at CGO on 28 September. Demonstrations at (1) Admiralty, 5. Police and Fire Services Department officers gave regular briefings to the media during the protests. (2) Causeway Bay and (3) Mong Kok. 6. The President of Lingnan University, Professor Leonard K Cheng (centre), chairs a meeting between representatives of the Federation of Students and the Chief Secretary for Administration (third right) and 3 other senior government officials on 21 October. 4 5 6 4. The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung (third left), and the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam (third right), brief the media at CGO on 28 September. 5. Police and Fire Services Department officers gave regular briefings to the media during the protests. 6. The President of Lingnan University, Professor Leonard K Cheng (centre), chairs a meeting between representatives of the Federation of Students and the Chief Secretary for Administration (third right) and other senior government officials on 21 October. 1 2 3 1. A police officer makes an announcement at the clearance of the Mong Kok protest site on 25 November. 2. The Causeway Bay protest site is cleared. 3-4. Barriers erected by protesters at Admiralty are removed, and the clearance of the road nears completion. 4 Hongat Kong Night Hong Kong is truly a ‘city that never sleeps’. Temple Street Night Market in Yau Ma Tei comes alive when the sun goes down. 1 1. Morning newspapers are sorted for distribution on the street in Central. 2. Night-time allows essential road maintenance to be carried out on Yuen Long Highway. 3. The fishermen’s catch is unloaded at Aberdeen Pier. 4. Cleaning the Cheung Tsing Tunnel. 3 2 4 1 1. ‘Uncle’ Ray Cordeiro (at 90, the ‘World's Most Durable Radio DJ’ in Guinness World Records) presents his radio programme, ‘All the Way with Ray’, five nights a week on RTHK Radio 3. 2. Participants in the Samaritan Befrienders’ ‘From Darkness to Sunrise’ City Orienteering Competition. 2 Outdoor Events Hong Kong hosts several world-class sports events (such as the Rugby Sevens), but there were also many other outdoor events in 2014. The Red Bull Flugtag saw competitors ‘flying’ their homemade contraptions into the harbour at Central. 1 3 4 1. The Sedan Chair Race on the Peak attracted 48 teams to raise funds for charity. 2. Some 16,000 people took part in the Colour Run at AsiaWorld-Expo in December. 3. The Hong Kong 24-Hour Charity Pedal Kart Grand Prix in Victoria Park raised more than $1 million. 4. Over 43,000 adults and children enjoyed the events at Freespace Fest 2014 at the West Kowloon Cultural District, including ‘Tangle’ by Polyglot Theatre. 2 4 1 1. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra presents the Swire ‘Symphony Under the Stars’ at the Central waterfront. (Photo courtesy of Cheung Chi-wai/ HK Phil) 2. The 10-kilometre AXA Hong Kong Streetathon through Kowloon East started and finished at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. 2 Streetscapes Traditional signs in Tai Nam Street in Sham Shui Po advertise a range of businesses. In contrast, some of Hong Kong’s streets specialise in particular crafts or products. 1 1. Yuen Po Street’s ‘Bird Market’ in Mong Kok. 2. Flower Market Road in Mong Kok. 3. Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei is home to numerous shops selling kitchen ware. 4. Fabric for sale in Ki Lung Street in Sham Shui Po. 3 4 2 4 1 1. Upper Lascar Row (or ‘Cat Street’) in Sheung Wan is well-known for its curio and antique shops. 2. Kiosks in Man Wa Lane (known as ‘Chop Alley’) in Sheung Wan make name chops (seals or stamps) to order. 2 Exhibitions Hong Kong’s many exhibitions in 2014 included ‘Gaudi Architecture’ at Times Square. It featured 14 models of works designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, including his unfinished masterpiece Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. 3 1 1. ‘City Impression@Connectivity – From Point to Point’, an exhibition at City Gallery about public bus services. 2. ‘A Journey through Hong Kong’s Postal History’, a roving exhibition recorded features of the old General Post Office building from 1911 to 1976. 3. ‘Elephant Parade’, seen here at Pacific Place, featured more than 100 elephant sculptures. 4. ‘The Last Game’ at Harbour City featured sculptures of World Cup footballers. 5. ‘Ju Ming – Sculpting the Living World’ at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. 2 4 3 5 4 1 1. Emperor Alexander II’s coronation carriage, a highlight of the ‘Treasures from Tsarskoye Selo, Residence of the Russian Monarchs’ exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of History. 2. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus at the Asia Society Centre. 2 Urban Trees Over 130 species of trees, both native and introduced, can be seen in Hong Kong’s urban areas. Many, like this Flame Tree (Delonix regia) in Tsz Wan Shan Park, add spectacular colour to their surroundings. 1. A Cotton Tree (Bombax ceiba) in Central. 1 3 2. Hong Kong’s emblem is the flower of the native Bauhinia x blakeana (or Hong Kong Orchid Tree), here seen in Victoria Park. 2 4 3. A Queen Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa) in Wan Chai. 3 4. Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) at Lai Chi Kok Park. 4 2 3 1. A magnificent India-rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) at Lugard Road on the Peak. 2. A Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa) in Shing Wong Street, one of many ‘wall trees’ found in Hong Kong. 3. Camphor trees (Cinnamomum 1 camphora) in Tsim Sha Tsui. Drones Camera-carrying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, are used by a number of government departments. Here the harbour forms a backdrop to a Lands Department UAV at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. 1 5 3 2 4 6 5 1-4. Lands Department staff prepare a UAV for take-off. 5. UAV photos such as this of the Tap Mun Public Pier can be used to create 3D animations. 6. UAVs record the progress of projects, in this case the construction of a sewage pumping station in Tuen Mun. 6 1 1. An orthophoto of Tai Tong produced from vertical aerial photos taken by UAV. An orthophoto is an aerial photograph that has been geometrically corrected so that there is no distortion caused by perspective: the photo is like a map and can be used to measure true distances. 2. UAV photos also help monitor the progress of re-vegetation work, such as the Lantau Plantation Enrichment Project. 2 Horses The Year of the Horse coincided in 2014 with the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJC’s) 130th anniversary season, a fitting time to celebrate horses in Hong Kong. This is the Longines Hong Kong Masters show jumping competition at AsiaWorld-Expo. 1 2 1. The HKJC’s equine swimming pool at Sha Tin, part of the club’s extensive care facilities for its horses.