Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced that visitors will have free access to government-run venues like the Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Science Museum on December 9, in the run-up to the district council elections on December 10. There will also be nighttime events at Wan Chai Temporary Promenade and Kwun Tong Promenade inspired by the recent Night Vibes Hong Kong events held there recently.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Lee added, “The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will also organise a number of activities with sports elements. On [December 9] evening, there will be a large-scale music performance and drone performance. There will also be concessionary fares for various heritage tours.”
What are the free events on December 9?
There will be a series of events held across the city, the highlights of which are:
- Harbourfront is One and All: A pop-up event at Wan Chai harbourfront from 2pm-6pm.
- Tri Paddling Challenge: An event organised by the NGO HKALPS at the Kwun Tong waterfront from 9am-6pm.
- Fun in Sports & DC Election: There will be sports- and games-related events at six outdoor venues — Kung Fu Corner at Kowloon Park, Kai Tak Station Square, Hong Kong Velodrome Park, Ginza Square in Tin Shui Wai, Pak Tai Temple Playground in Cheung Chau, and Quarry Bay Park (Tai Chi Garden), from 2pm-5pm.
- Concert at West Kowloon Cultural District: A large-scale outdoor concert and drone show that will also be broadcast on TV.
- Free admission to fee-charging exhibitions: Visitors do not need to pay to view fee-charging exhibitions of the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Hong Kong Wetland Park.
- Exhibition of vintage buses and electric buses: There will be free entry to an exhibition of vintage buses and electric buses at the KMB Yuet Lun Street Depot in Lai Chi Kok.
The government is also organising a series of free year-end activities, starting with the ongoing Hong Kong WinterFest that features the city’s largest outdoor Christmas Tree, and will have a new 10-minute pyrotechnics display for three weekends in a row and the Christmas holidays. The annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display will also return for the first time in five years.
Header image credits: Leung Cho Pan via Canva