New York dragon boat festival achieves milestone

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, Anita Chan (left), took part in the eye-dotting ceremony during the opening ceremony of the 20th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York. Also pictured is Chairman of the 2010 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York Henry Wan.

This year’s Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York hit a milestone as it celebrated its 20th anniversary.

A record 173 teams from across the United States, as well as from Canada and Italy, took part in this year’s 20th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York(HKDBF-NY) held August 7-8 at Meadows Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York (HKETONY) Anita Chan was a guest of honor at this year’s festival.

The festival, a Chinese tradition with more than 2,000 years of history, was first introduced to New York by the HKETONY in 1991. As the HKDBF-NY celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, it has also become a fixture of the New York summer scene.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York booth was popular among those attending the festival.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Chan noted that the festival enjoys wide support from the media, with local broadcast networks — New York 1 and Multicultural Radio — broadcasting the event live, allowing virtually everyone in New York to be part of the festivities.

“I am also heartened to learn that this year we have a record number of more than 170 teams. Other than from all across the United States, there are teams from Canada, and more excitingly, we have one team coming all the way from Italy,” Ms. Chan said. “This points to one very important fact — our dragon boat festival is international, and that is exactly what our purpose is for the festival.”

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York Anita Chan and Chairman of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York Henry Wan presented awards to the winning teams of the HK Family Invitational.

A series of commemorative events were held to mark the 20th anniversary of the festival. A New York landmark — the Empire State Building — featured the colors of the festival with a show-of-light spectacular on the eve of the event.

Ms. Chan also joined members of the organizing committee of the HKDBF-NY to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 30 to commemorate the anniversary.

Taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York are (from left): Comptroller of New York City John Liu, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Chairman of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York Henry Wan, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York Anita Chan, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in New York Ambassador Peng Keyu and President and CEO of HSBC Bank USA Irene Dorner.

Other celebratory events included the June 23 launch of a 30-second video commemorating the anniversary on HSBC’s jumbotron screen, which is located in the heart of New York’s Times Square, and a blissful “Dragon Boat Awakening Ceremony” held in New York City’s Central Park on July 1.

Concluding the celebration, a gala team dinner will be held on August 27 in the Central Park Boathouse. Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA Donald Tong will be the guest of honor at the dinner, which will be attended by city government officials, community leaders, major sponsors, representatives of the business sector, and the media. 

The HKETONY is the festival’s principal benefactor. Every year, the HKETONY has a booth at the festival to update visitors on Hong Kong’s latest developments. Brand Hong Kong souvenirs were also given to those attending this year’s festival.