Ap Lei Chau residents celebrate Hung Shing Culture Festival

Residents of Ap Lei Chau participated in the Hung Shing Culture Festival, which is starting today, to honor the god of the southern sea Hung Shing.

A dragon boat team formed by residents and university students paddled three rounds in the typhoon shelter opposite the Hung Shing Temple to seek blessings from Hung Shing Yeh for good weather and peace.

One of the paddlers, surnamed Pang, said most of the dragon boat clubs pay respect to the temple and continued that the festival's atmosphere is better than in previous years.

Meanwhile, water lanterns with lighting devices were cast into the sea to pray for peace and happiness in the coming year.

A festival parade will also be held from 1.30 pm to 5 pm, with 16 celebration teams formed by devotees and worshippers carrying a statue of Hung Shing through the streets of Ap Lei Chau, surrounded by lion and dragon dancers to the sound of traditional music.

Besides, from March 20 to 24, Chinese opera troupes will perform daily between 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm and from 7 pm to 10.30 pm, followed by the Southern District Vibes Bazaar between March 16 and 24.

Cheung Chin Chung, a Southern District Council member, hoped to promote the traditional cultural festival to other countries through brochures in both Chinese and English.

The Hung Shing Culture Festival, which falls on the 13th day of the second lunar month each year, has been celebrated for over a century.

The festival has successfully applied for funding under the Pilot Scheme for Characteristic Local Tourism Events by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and became one of the highlighted events of "Day and Night Vibes" this year.