Love is in the air amid hearty turnout

A large red "Chubby Hearts" art installation has welcomed over 200,000 visitors in its first three days since its launch on Wednesday with tourists accounting for more than 20 percent of the turnout, according to the organizer.

The installation, created by British designer Anya Hindmarch, aims to attract 100,000 people during its display in various spots in Hong Kong until Saturday.

Chubby Hearts Hong Kong is the first project supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund this year, with a subsidy of HK$7.8 million.

The subsidy covers curation, installation production and display, creation of works by local designers and artists, staffing and security, market research, and promotion, according to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.

The 12-meter Chubby Hearts appeared at the Statue Square in Central again yesterday after a short break on Saturday due to strong winds.

Organizers at Hong Kong Design Center announced on Facebook that the wind speeds had exceeded the maximum limit the 12-meter heart-shaped installation could withstand.

Instead, two smaller three-meter Chubby Hearts were displayed.

Aside from the 12-meter installation in Central, there was also a three-meter Chubby Hearts pop-up installation on display at Peak Road Garden from 10 am to

6 pm and at the third-floor observation deck in the Peak Galleria from 2 pm to 6 pm yesterday.

Visitors expressed their delight and enjoyment over the installation.

A man, Chan, who wasn't aware of the occasion, stopped to take a selfie after spotting the "huge and beautiful" red heart on the street.

He believed that the government should organize more similar activities to attract tourists, as it would be beneficial for both locals and foreigners.

"No matter whether it's locals or visitors, it's good news as long as you can gather many people," Chan said.

Another visitor, Lo, who came with his partner, said the Chubby Hearts installation continues the Valentine's Day theme of romance.

Andrew, an Indian who has been working here for over a year, brought his family to Statue Square after being captivated by the beauty of the Chubby Hearts during his commute to the office.

He felt this year's Lunar New Year festivities were much better than in 2023, and suggested organizing more activities to enhance the city's competitiveness.

A woman, Wong, visited the Peak to take a selfie with the Chubby Hearts and found the installation to be even bigger than she had expected.

Despite observing various events organized by the SAR government recently, she remained skeptical about their effectiveness. She expressed greater interest in the Lunar New Year parade, considering it to be more compelling.

"I have no idea if those activities did attract many people," she said, adding that she felt the Lunar New Year parade was more interesting for her.