Record number of teams compete at
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York

Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA Donald Tong at the eye-dotting ceremony to open the festival.

A record 185 teams, involving more than 2,000 participants, competed Aug. 13-14 at the 21st annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY).

Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA Donald Tong was a guest of honor at this year’s festivities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Tong noted the success and popularity of the festival, which has evolved from a modest 10 teams at the beginning to more than 180 teams vying for the top prizes.

Celebrating 21 years of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York Director Anita Chan (front row, third from right), along with HKDBF-NY Chairman Henry Wan (front row, fourth from right) and sponsors rang the closing bell Aug. 11 at the New York Stock Exchange. (Photo courtesy: NYSE Euronext/Ben Hider)

Mr. Tong also highlighted the ties between Hong Kong and New York. “Hong Kong and New York have so many things alike,” he said. “Hong Kong is Asia’s world city, where people from all over the world come to travel, work, live, study and do business — just like New York.

“We also host the world’s two leading financial centers,” said Mr. Tong, noting that in the run-up to the festival, its organizing committee and sponsors were invited to ring the closing bell Aug. 11 at the New York Stock Exchange.

“I trust the ties between New York and Hong Kong would continue to grow robustly with more exchanges of people, capital and goods as time goes by,” said the commissioner.

The HKETONY booth attracts young and old alike at the festival.

The HKDBF-NY, first introduced in 1991 to New York City by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY), has grown into one of the largest multicultural fairs in the metropolis as well as the biggest festival of its kind in the U.S. This year’s festival was held at Meadow Lake at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.