| |
July
2008
HK
NEWS
SUMMER
2008
CELEBRITY HOTSPOTTING
A dark knight in Hong Kong!
Before Batman jumps off the roof of the International Finance Centre,
the highest building in Hong Kong, he takes a deep breath – partly
because he is overlooking the magnificent Victoria Harbour…
Batman – The Dark Knight is the sequel to 2005's Batman Begins,
which successfully rebooted the Batman film series after an eight-year
hiatus. Christopher Nolan returns as the director and Christian Bale reprises
the lead role. Batman's primary conflicts in the film include his fight
against the Joker (Heath Ledger) and his strained friendship with district
attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart).
Filming of Batman – The Dark Knight took place in Hong Kong last
November and, apart from the International Finance Centre, shooting locations
include the Central-Mid-Levels escalators, Queen's Road, The Center skyscraper
and the iconic Peninsula Hotel. Hong Kong’s spectacular skyline
is also featured in the film’s promotional poster.
Batman – The Dark Knight is released in UK cinemas on Thursday 25
July 2008.
www.thedarkknight.warnerbros.com
Leonardo DiCaprio hits Hong Kong to promote the first green credit card
Leonardo DiCaprio paid his first visit recently to Hong Kong to help launch
HSBC’s new line of ‘green’ credit cards.
The green card is made of environmentally friendly materials and uses
digital bills to cut down paper consumption. Every transaction will also
contribute to a local environmental protection project. The launch is
a joint project between HSBC and The Leonardo DiCaprio foundation.
Hitting the Asian city also gave Leo the opportunity to be on hand for
the premiere of his film, The 11th Hour, a documentary concerning the
environmental crises of our planet.
www.hsbc.com
OPENINGS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Hong Kong Ocean Park to embrace "Kung Fu Panda"
Hong Kong Ocean Park's young panda couple Le Le and Ying Ying will soon
embrace a ‘Kung Fu star’ panda this summer named Po, whose
lifelong dream of being a Kung Fu master finally comes true in DreamWorks'
latest animated feature Kung Fu Panda.
Hong Kong Ocean Park and DreamWorks Animation SKG jointly present a Kung
Fu Panda themed attraction, as the highlight of this year's summer event
at the park. The attraction will bring to life scenes and icons of action-packed
adventure Kung Fu Panda, which started showing in cinemas around the world
last month.
As one of the only theme parks in the world that is home to four giant
pandas, what better platform to present Kung Fu Panda than Hong Kong Ocean
Park?
Le Le and Ying Ying came to Hong Kong in 2007 as a gift to celebrate the
10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.
www.oceanpark.com.hk
Hong Kong Disney opens 'It's a Small World'
Hong Kong Disneyland has opened the classic boat ride “It's a Small
World”. The attraction is the largest indoor ride at the park.
The Hong Kong Disneyland version features 38 classic Disney characters,
added to scenes where their stories originated, as well as 241 moving
and talking figures of children dressed in different national costumes.
It also includes an expanded Asian scene, a Middle Eastern scene and a
new scene for North America.
The song "It's a Small World (after all)" is sung in 9 different
languages, while the finale features a spectacular "curtain call"
with some extraordinary optical lighting effects not seen on any other
Disney ride.
www.park.hongkongdisneyland.com
More luxury brands at Harbour City
A leading destination for luxury brands in Hong Kong, Harbour City welcomed
two more additions to its expanding list of high profile names.
After a renovation programme which lasted for more than a year, Louis
Vuitton has opened its Asian flagship store in Hong Kong’s Harbour
City shopping centre. The 4-level 1,749 square-metre store is Louis Vuitton’s
largest store outside Paris. Decorated in gold, the colour fully demonstrates
the brand’s uniqueness in the global luxury goods market. The store’s
wall is decorated with the brand’s signature monogram pattern with
LED display, its spacious yet modern interior together with intelligent
design and layering have stunned and impressed many.
Stella McCartney, the designer of the stars, opened her new store in Harbour
City earlier this year. The eponymous label was launched in 2001 as a
joint venture with Gucci Group and offers a luxury range of ready-to-wear,
shoes, bags, fragrances, eyewear, accessories, an organic skin care range
and a performance range with Adidas, available through its acclaimed flagship
stores and around 600 luxury stores in key cities worldwide.
www.harbourcity.com.hk
Hong Kong adds new Olympic-themed piazza
Inspired by the excitement of this summer’s Olympic Games, whose
equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong, and destined to become the
newest harbour-front landmark, a five-storey tall structure of the Olympic
rings has been installed on the waterside of the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
The rings light up every night from 6pm until midnight until the end of
the year.
A variety of activities take place at the Olympic-themed piazza throughout
the summer and visitors can also enjoy live telecasts of the Olympic events
on huge TV screens from 25 July to 24 August 2008.
www.discoverhongkong.com/equestrian2008/eng/equestrian_olympic.html
WHAT’S HAPPENING: RESTAURANTS & BARS
‘Sex and the City’ Mixologist Blends Cocktails for SEVVA
A renowned ‘mixologist’ who blended exotic drinks on the TV
series ‘Sex and the City’ has designed a new cocktail menu
with an Asian twist at ultra-fashionable SEVVA located in the Penthouse
of Prince’s Building in Central.
The eclectic creations of New Yorker Joseph Boroski, who attracted the
attention of the celebrated show’s producers as a creative and entertaining
‘cocktail creator’ at various trendy Manhattan bars, now debut
in Hong Kong at SEVVA, the city’s most chic and glamorous, yet relaxed
restaurant and bar in Central.
Asian-influenced cocktails range from the “The Mojito: SEVVA Style”
and “Bloody Mary in Asia” (incorporating wasabi and lemongrass)
to the “SEVVA Sexy Pink Sangria”, “T-Rated” (including
gin and Chinese tea), “Ginseng & Pink Grapefruit Cosmopolitan”,
alcohol-free “Green Yum-Yum” and the irresistible “I
Know I’m Beautiful”. These unique cocktails add yet more glamour
to the new penthouse venue with its wrap-around terrace that showcases
sweeping harbour and city views.
Evisu’s first bar outside Japan
Evisu, the world’s leading premium denim fashion brand, has opened
in Hong Kong its only bar outside Japan.
Located at a slightly hidden spot in Central (you need to take a lift
to the second floor of what looks like an ordinary office building), the
Evisu bar has stayed away from the obvious denim motif and instead opted
for a modern décor. The vibe in the bar is upscale and the outdoor
patio has proved an immediate hit. The cityscape view focuses on The Center,
a seventy-three story building with a rainbow of multi-coloured, changing
lights.
Already a popular spot among Hong Kong’s hip professionals and the
international crowd who have seen it all and prefer a sophisticated spot
for quality drinks, the bar features a menu stocked with unique, premium
cocktails - many of the drinks are special recipes that required them
to import the ingredients themselves!
New restaurant arrivals…
Le Soleil
The Royal Garden’s newest restaurant, the exotic Vietnamese eatery
Le Soleil, has formally opened with a fresh look and a menu brimming with
innovation and flavour.
A metal gazebo accentuates the restaurant’s airy, outdoor feel,
while the wall lamps and original paintings by Vietnamese artists have
been introduced to project a colonial feel. A sculpture made of tree branches
and resin lotus stems, which forms part of the restaurant’s central
fountain, has created a lively centrepiece and point of discussion.
Diners here receive ‘old-world’ hospitality and in line with
its French-Vietnamese ancestry, the restaurant serves a modern and highly
original blend of French and Vietnamese cuisine, as made famous by Chef
Dennis Wong, owner and proprietor of the Le Soleil restaurants.
www.rghk.com.hk/dining_le_soleil
Loong Yat Heen
Loong Yat Heen is a brand new boutique Chinese restaurant acclaimed for
its authentic Cantonese cuisine and delicate dim sum, prepared with the
finest ingredients by experienced chefs. Here, guests may enjoy lunch
or dinner while overlooking the famous Nathan Road.
A convenient venue located on the second floor of The Kowloon Hotel, the
restaurant is connected to two function rooms - Dragon I and Dragon II
- that feature a contemporary look, flexible capacity, and wireless connectivity.
www.harbour-plaza.com/en/restaurant.aspx?hotel_id=klnh§ion_id=rest&subsection_id=lyh
The Pawn
Occupying one of the few old colonial buildings left in the metropolitan
area of Wanchai, The Pawn is a new restaurant in a semi-historic setting
– and in keeping with this naming convention, it is located in a
building that housed a pawn shop in its last incarnation!
The British gastropub menu offers a delightful selection and all dishes,
from the goat’s cheese mousse to the assorted seafood platter, are
delectable and stylishly presented.
With high ceilings, an open-air balcony and smart yet subtle decorations,
the Pawn is probably the best ‘adaptive re-use’ of a heritage
building in Hong Kong.
www.thepawn.com.hk/
NEW HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION
Former Marine Police HQ heritage development transformed into new boutique
hotel
A new boutique hotel is due to open in late 2008 in the Former Marine
Police Headquarters building in Tsim Sha Tsui, which was built more than
120 years ago at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula.
Located adjacent to Canton Road and close to the Star Ferry Pier, the
development will comprise a heritage boutique hotel, as well as a grand
piazza, a heritage hall, restaurants and retail outlets.
On completion, this new tourism zone will serve as a heritage anchor to
one of Hong Kong’s prime shopping and entertainment districts.
The hotel, whose name is yet to be confirmed, will offer 30 rooms within
the historical Main building, which was built in 1884 and is one of the
four oldest surviving government buildings in Hong Kong.
www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_51.php
New hotel openings…
Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon Hong Kong
Hotel Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon Hong Kong, the former Majestic Hotel,
is centrally located on the main thoroughfare of Kowloon, also known as
the golden mile.
Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon blends the best of the citys local culture
with the latest modern facilities and services, featuring 389 well-designed
rooms and suites, Ming Sing Bar and Café Royal restaurant. The
hotel is a smart choice for corporate and leisure travellers, with a great
location and public transport on the door step.
www.accorhotels.com.au/Novotel-Kowloon
Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong
Located on the harbour front in the Western District of Hong Kong Island,
the Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong is a contemporary 32-storey hotel,
only a mile from the Macau Ferry Pier.
Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong guestrooms include Marriott’s signature
bedding, LCD TVs, and high-speed wired and wireless Internet access. The
245-room hotel also offers a restaurant with 24-hour room service, a business
centre, a fitness centre and wireless Internet access in public areas.
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hkgcy-courtyard-hong-kong
TRAVELLING TO HONG KONG…
Virgin Atlantic to go twice daily to Hong Kong
Virgin Atlantic, one of the world’s leading long-haul airlines,
is to increase its frequency between London Heathrow and Hong Kong from
daily to twice a day.
The new, second service will boost the number of seats available on the
booming Heathrow-Hong Kong route and open up fresh opportunities for those
passengers wishing to connect to other cities in China or the wider Far
East.
From 28 October 2008, flight VS238 will operate three times a week, on
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and then operate daily from 4 December
2008. VS238 will depart London Heathrow Terminal 3 at 16.00, arriving
in Hong Kong at 12.30pm the following afternoon.Flight VS239 will operate
between Hong Kong and London Heathrow on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
from 29 October 2008, and then operate daily from 5 December 2008. VS239
will depart Hong Kong at 14.15, arriving at London Heathrow at 19.20 the
same day.
www.virgin-atlantic.com
Hong Kong introduces tax exemption for imported wine and beer
Following the decrease in import tax rate from 80 to 40 percent last year,
Hong Kong’s government has now abolished taxes on wine and beer.
Hong Kong Tourism Board has urged the dining and retail sectors to immediately
lower the retail prices of alcoholic beverages, realising that many visitors,
especially those from the long-haul regions, have a preference for alcoholic
drinks while dining.
www.info.hktdc.com/tdcnews/0802/08022701.htm
Official launch of the Government Wi-Fi Programme
The Government Wi-Fi Programme (GovWiFi) has been officially launched
in Hong Kong, allowing visitors to access the Internet through the free
Wi-Fi facilities at designated premises. By the middle of next year, the
implementation of GovWiFi will put in place around 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots
covering some 350 locations, such as key cultural and recreation centres,
sports centres, large parks, libraries and community halls.
The provision of public Wi-Fi services will continue to expand, maintaining
Hong Kong’s position among the leading cities in the world: already
in the first two months of 2008, there was a surge of more than 1,000
new public Wi-Fi hotspots installed covering more than 4,100 locations.
http://www.gov.hk/en/theme/wifi/program/index.htm
EVENTS CALENDAR
Summer Temptations, a mega summer promotional campaign
From 1 July and for 12 exciting weeks, until 21 September, the ‘2008
Hong Kong Summer Temptations’ initiative will offer visitors a wealth
of great value dining and touring experiences in addition to the ever-popular
summer sales. The campaign showcases the summer appeal of Hong Kong from
a different angle, encouraging visitors to explore endless fun and excitement
in the city.
Throughout this period shopping malls and department stores will be going
the extra mile and clients can expect great discounts special concessions
for tourists, while popular restaurants and food districts will be cooking
up more treats for visitors, with discounts and special promotions on
meals and wine.
Visa card holders who spend HK$500 (approx: £32) in a single transaction
can enter the Visa ‘Win A Million’ Lucky Draw with over HK$1,000,000
worth of prizes to be given away to the lucky winners.
Look out for the Hong Kong Tourism Board's black and gold "QTS"
logo on shop windows when buying jewellery and electrical goods, as this
indicates establishments that have passed rigorous yearly tests for the
quality of their products and service.
www.discoverhongkong.com/hksf/
Olympic Games 2008, Equestrian Events
If your favourite Olympic events involve horses, then the place to go
this summer is Hong Kong.
All equestrian events of the 2008 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games
will take place in Hong Kong, which is providing world class facilities:
the state-of-the-art Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue is the fastest
ever construction of Olympic equestrian facilities (it was completed within
two years) and features four blocks of air-conditioned stables with 225
stalls in total, which will accommodate 200 Olympic horses, while separate
reserve stables for 25 horses have also been created.
Provided by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the 2008 Olympic equestrian venues
and facilities include a number of unique features and Olympic firsts,
such as: the first-ever use of a racecourse in an Olympic equestrian venue;
the first-ever air-conditioned indoor training arena in Olympic history;
and the first-ever recycling of 100% of Olympic stable waste.
Hong Kong will host the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics
from 9–21 August and of the Paralympics from 7–11 September
2008.
A limited edition HK$20 bank note, which commemorates the upcoming Olympic
Games, went on sale on Wednesday 16 July. The front of the new Hong Kong
collectible bank note features the remains of the ancient Olympic stadium,
the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games' emblem and the Bank of China Tower in
Hong Kong. On the back is the Beijing Olympic Stadium, known as the ‘Bird's
Nest’. A total of 4 million notes will be available to the public.
www.discoverhongkong.com/equestrian2008
Hong Kong, a fair city!
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a number of high
profile international events this summer, including:
Hong Kong Book Fair (23 – 29 July): This annual event attracts avid
readers by the thousands offering a wide range of publications for sale,
as well as activities for the literary minded. In 2007, a total of 475
exhibitors from 19 countries and regions displayed their books and publications
and the fair achieved a record-breaking attendance of 763,545 visitors.
Hong Kong International Wine Fair (14 - 16 August): When Hong Kong International
Wine Fair makes its debut in August 2008, Hong Kong will move into a key
position as a trading platform for fine wines in Asia. All the stars are
in alignment for the creation of a fine wine trading and distribution
hub in Asia and where better than Hong Kong, which now has abolished import
duty on wines!
19th Food Expo 2008 (14 – 18 August): This annual gastronomic extravaganza
is a must-attend for all food lovers interested in the latest offerings
from around the world. The public appetite for the HKTDC Food Expo seems
insatiable; last year, 365 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions joined
the Expo and more than 314,100 members of the public came through the
doors, discerning consumers always on the lookout for new taste sensations!
www.hkcec.com.hk
• For further information on travelling to Hong Kong please visit
www.discoverhongkong.com or call the Hong Kong Tourism Board on 020 7533
7100
www.DiscoverHongKong.com
For media information, please contact:
David Ezra at david@saltmarshpr.co.uk
Tom Panagos at tom@saltmarshpr.co.uk
Tel: 020
7928 1600
Fax: 020
7928 1700
The Saltmarsh
Partnership
The Copperfields
25d Copperfield
Street
London
SE1 0EN
|
