Rubber Duck returns with friend - for double luck

Sophie Hui

Not one but two giant rubber ducks from Dutch entrepreneur-artist Florentijn Hofman will be in Hong Kong waters after 10 years.

The two 18-meter-tall yellow inflatable ducks will be floating in Victoria Harbour from June 10.

People should get the best views of the so-called Double Ducks from near Tamar Park and the Central and Western Promenade for about two weeks - depending on the weather.

Hofman said yesterday that his ducks symbolize "friendship and getting connected. Due to Covid we learned that spending time together is so valuable. Making moments and memories for real, living in the here and now, are things to cling to.

"'Double Ducks is not about looking into the past but enjoying moments together. Double Duck is double luck."

Event organizer AllRightsReserved said the ducks symbolize prosperity in partnership, friendship and double happiness in coming together as one.

AllRights founder SK Lam said: "We were frequently asked in the past decade when the Rubber Duck would be returning. So we decided to bring back our old friend with a companion."

Prior to the arrival of Double Ducks people have started taking selfies with some "quacky iconic visuals" of the ducks at 18 MTR stations including Central, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Tong, Hung Hom, Mong Kok, Choi Hung and Tai Wai.

And Admiralty has been turned into the Double Ducks station with Exit E becoming a Double Ducks route. And a six-meter-tall, 24.5m-wide window allows for gazing at the actual Double Ducks paddling in the harbor.

Multiple duck-themed motifs also appear around the station. At Hong Kong station passengers can view an interactive screen with a Rubber Duck interactive game. The Rubber Duck will appear on the screen, swaying gently as if swimming in Victoria Harbour and interacting with passengers passing by.

Outside on Hong Kong Island a tram carrying the Double Ducks theme will be traveling around on routes for a month.

AllRightsReserved has also launched a series composed of 24 images of the Double Ducks, featuring local landmarks and places of interest including the Clock Tower and Space Museum.

The giant rubber duck originally floated in Victoria Harbour in 2013, attracting hundreds of thousands of people. But its paddling was cut short when it leaked and deflated and was towed away.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com