Keung To Bay? Mirror fever hits Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay as thousands gather to celebrate Cantopop idol’s birthday
- Crowds pack Hennessy Road for Mirror member’s 25th birthday, amid a free ride day sponsored by the fan club
- Causeway Bay is dubbed ‘Keung To Bay’ by fans, due to the numerous billboards featuring the star in the area
Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay once again became the heart of fanfare for Cantopop heartthrob Keung To on Tuesday as thousands gathered to celebrate the star’s birthday, while tourists visiting for ‘golden week’ look on with awe and amusement.
Fans of the boy band Mirror member packed Hennessy Road, which was lavishly emblazoned with Keung’s photos and well wishes for his 25th birthday from the afternoon until night.
The occasion coincided with a free ride day on the city’s trams, which was sponsored by Keung To’s fan club.
The highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of five specially designed trams, or “ding ding” as they are affectionately known by locals, which drew crowds of hundreds whenever they made their way through the district.
In Causeway Bay, dubbed “Keung To Bay” by fans due to the numerous billboards featuring the star, supporters decked in fan club attire gathered to take pictures while holding stuffed toys in their idol’s likeness.
“The tram came past at 12.30pm and 3.30pm. We are now waiting for the 6pm round, with the last one at 10.30pm. Some of us take turns to be here because many have to work,” Irene, who is in her sixties, said.
She added that she was worried about the weather given the continuous days of rain Hong Kong had seen recently, but felt that fans were blessed with good weather on Tuesday.
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“It’s not Li’s field any more,” Irene said, in reference to a running joke in Hong Kong that the city’s richest man Li Ka-shing was so powerful that rains would stop for him when work days started. “It’s now Keung’s field.”
Crystal Yip, a restaurant manager in her thirties, said she came to Causeway Bay to celebrate Keung’s birthday because she wanted to experience the feverish atmosphere.
“I love Mirror because they brought so much joy to Hongkongers during a very difficult period,” said Yip, who counts member Anson Kong as her favourite.
“Their relentless pursuit of their dreams was very inspirational to me, which is why I am here today, to show my support.”
Scores of police were seen maintaining order as fans packed outside Sogo shopping centre.
On China’s Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, mainland tourists who came ahead of the Golden Week holidays that began on Wednesday, were surprised by the boy band members’ influence.
“This is so shocking,” one user wrote. “This is what we called a top idol’s influence. [Keung] is very popular.”
“I originally planned to go to Sogo for shopping before I saw this,” another mainland Chinese user wrote. “What a surprise for me to bump into this! The whole area is packed with fans!”
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Keung was preoccupied with preparations for a forthcoming show in Singapore and could not attend the local celebration, but he uploaded a video with his teammates in the city state thanking fans for their support.
Keung is among the 12-member Mirror, which rose to fame in 2018 after they were assembled from contestants in ViuTV’s reality talent programme Good Night Show – King Maker. The band triggered a revival of interest in Cantopop.
