Continuing a festive tradition of which The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been an ardent supporter, an extravaganza of carnival floats and performances will herald the Year of the Dragon in the International Chinese New Year Night Parade on Monday 23 January. For the 17th consecutive year, the Club’s float will dazzle local residents and visitors lining the route through Tsim Sha Tsui in this annual spectacular showcasing Hong Kong’s unique charm as the “Pearl of the Orient”.
Pearls are a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortune and are often depicted being guarded by dragons. This year, a giant “Pearl of Wisdom” measuring 2.5 metres in diameter will shine on the Club’s moving stage, watched over by a scintillating Chinese dragon. The translucent pearl will become Hong Kong’s first outdoor spherical screen and display auspicious Chinese calligraphy, along with animations portraying the Club’s various contributions to the community.
Also featured on the float is a golden racehorse, symbolising the Club’s role as a force for good in society. It creates prosperity for Hong Kong by providing world-class sporting entertainment, transforming the public's gaming demand into huge tax revenues, contributing to charitable causes through its not-for-profit business model and providing job opportunities in the community. In total the Club made a record return to the community of more than HK$15 billion last year through betting duties and taxes, while donating a further HK$1.6 billion to charitable projects. The float's golden horse is at full gallop, racing forward to help lead the city to further success in the years to come.
For the third time in this annual mega-event, a group of young dancers from the Club-supported SkyHigh Creative Partners will perform alongside the float. They illustrate the Club’s long-standing commitment to youth development and to nurturing creativity and inspiration among the younger generation. Besides choreographing their performance, the SkyHigh students have helped design and produce the float decorations, as well as the animations projected on to the Pearl of Wisdom.
The auspicious Chinese calligraphy projected on to the Pearl of Wisdom will be painted by disabled artist Chan Tung Mui, a registered member of the Club-sponsored Arts with the Disabled programme who was honoured as one of Hong Kong's “Outstanding Disabled Persons” in 2004 for her artistic achievements and positive attitude towards life. The Club’s performing troupe will distribute 8,888 copies of Chan’s calligraphy to spectators along the parade route.
Accompanying the dancers to shower spectators with auspicious blessings on the first day of the New Year will be 2010/11 champion apprentice jockey Vincent Ho and Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games equestrian bronze medallist Kenneth Cheng, a member of the HKJC Equestrian Team. Their sporting attainments echo the Club’s robust support for local sports development.
In showcasing to an international audience the achievements under HKJC's auspices of the SkyHigh teenagers, Chan Tung Mui and these young sports stars, the Club aims to demonstrate Hong Kong's "can do" spirit to the world, and at the same time inspire local people to strive for excellence in pursuit of their dreams.
More celebrations ushering in the prosperous Year of the Dragon will follow on the third day of the Year of the Dragon, Wednesday 25 January, when the Club hosts its ever-popular Chinese New Year Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse. On top of the horse racing entertainment, while HK$780,000 worth of glittering prizes will be on offer in the Lucky Dragon Scratch and Win Card game*.
The festive raceday will also feature a wealth of on-course attractions including an opening variety show, singing performances by popular TV stars, a Fortune Tips Forum with fung shui master Mak Ling-ling and traditional dragon and lion dance performances.**
Adding further to the festive atmosphere, a Mark Six CNY Snowball draw** will be held on Thursday 26 January, with a single lucky first prize winner likely to take home as much as HK$50 million.
* Free door gift will be distributed before the start of Race 6, or while stocks last
** Customers must be aged 18 and above
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects. It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.
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Photo 1 and Photo 2:
The HKJC is proud to present the a£á?Pearl of Wisdoma£á? float for this yeara£á?s CNY parade. A traditional symbol of good fortune, safely guarded by a Chinese dragon, the pearl represents the Cluba£á?s wishes for a prosperous new year.
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The giant a£á?Pearl of Wisdoma£á? shining on the Cluba£á?s float will become Hong Konga£á?s first outdoor spherical screen.
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Photo 4 and Photo 5:
For the third consecutive year, dancers from the Club-supported SkyHigh project will perform alongside the float. This year, they have also helped choreograph their performance and decorate the float.
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The HKJC Equestrian ambassador and SkyHigh dancers will shower spectators with auspicious blessings.
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Photo 7 and Photo 8:
The Chinese calligraphy created by disabled foot painting artist Chan Tung Mui conveys the a£á?can doa£á? message to the public. An auspicious 8,888 copies of her creations will be distributed to spectators along the parade route.
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