Shorter night vibes to enliven Temple Street

A series of Night Vibes Hong Kong events will be launched at Temple Street Night Market next month with a shorter duration than the harborfront night markets so as not to disturb residents, said Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung.

The campaign aims to promote the nighttime economy and kicked off on September 14, lasting until next spring. The government will hold a series of special nighttime events offering consumer incentives. Some tourist spots will also extend hours.

Yeung said on a televised program yesterday that chances of the number of visitors to Hong Kong returning to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year are slim.

As of September, he said the figure reached 23 million as he estimated at least 30 million visitors by the end of the year, still below pre-pandemic figures, though he anticipates improvement.

Yeung said promotions in Temple Street will showcase its unique flavors, such as local food and performances. He said that Temple Street had different performances in the past and traditional cultural practices like fortune-telling.

"Because Temple Street is a residential area, we have to consider the impact nearby. It may be necessary to compromise and events may primarily be held on weekends rather than daily. Adjustments will depend on the needs and environment," Yeung said.

Promotion activities in Temple Street would be similar to Night Market by The Sea, but details are still under discussion. He hopes to establish an ecosystem where people spontaneously organize activities and performances.

In terms of street performances, Yeung said that they would try their best to assist in promoting cultural arts. However, Hong Kong has a dense population and narrow roads, so safety issues need to be considered.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has already launched a pilot program to open outdoor spaces for young people to perform, such as the Sha Tin Town Hall.

In the future, the government will explore providing more venues and encourage organizations to offer private ones.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Tourism Board launched the "Hallo" Hong Kong Halloween promotion yesterday.

Tourism Board visitor centers, MTR stations, sight-seeing transport facilities, and various hot spots across the city will be decorated in whimsical Halloween-themed decorations.

Tourists and residents are invited to participate, showcasing to the world Hong Kong's "unparalleled fun-loving festive charm", the board said.

Visitors at the center can enjoy "Trick or Treat" activities and receive candies as well as personalizing Halloween itineraries and will distribute limited-edition festival decorations on the eve of Halloween.

A set of 10 elf stickers designed with local characteristics or landmark elements will be launched at 10 MTR stations on Wednesday, including Central, Admiralty, Ocean Park, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui, East Tsim Sha Tsui, Sham Shui Po, Sunny Bay, and Tung Chung.

Admiralty and Causeway Bay MTR stations were also transformed into Halloween-themed stations yesterday, with pumpkin decorations.

The festive decorations will spread to Central, Wan Chai, and Tsim Sha Tsui stations.