Hong Kong’s Thai community gives wet welcome to new year with Songkran festival
- Revellers celebrate Songkran in Kowloon City neighbourhood, but some participants complain of watered-down version due to newly added restrictions
- Special bazaar set up for first time as part of government’s ‘night vibes’ campaign to boost evening economy
Hong Kong’s Thai community marked the traditional start of their new year by celebrating the Songkran festival on Saturday, although some participants complained of a watered-down version due to newly added restrictions.
A special bazaar set up for the first time as part of the government’s “night vibes” campaign to boost the evening economy, and some merchants in the Kowloon City neighbourhood where the festivities were being held said they hoped the event could help drive up consumption by as much as 20 per cent before it ended on Sunday.
Revellers celebrate Songkran by throwing and spraying water as a way to symbolically send luck and happiness. But instead of a neighbourhood-wide celebration as seen in the past, the water splashing with buckets and water guns has been confined to basketball courts in Carpenter Road Park after three men were arrested for soaking police officers and reporters last year.
Kowloon City resident Louis Wong, 39, joined the water-splashing celebrations with his nine-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter for the first time after moving to the neighbourhood several years ago.
“The scale used to be bigger,” he said. “The ambience was better because everyone on the street would be drawn into the festivity. There was no way they could avoid getting wet.”
Participants needed to book a slot before they were granted entry to the basketball courts. Eight rounds, limited to 300 participants each, were open for registration online or on the spot.
Wong said the booking practice was “cumbersome” because he had booked for 2pm, but he did not gain entry until 3.30pm.
University graduate Ffion Trundell, 18, arrived in Hong Kong from Britain earlier this week to visit a friend. She knew about the festival because her friend’s stepmother came from Thailand.
“It is my first time in Asia. It is really fun,” she said. “I tried the Thai food and culture. It was really cool.”
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Yotham Sunittha, 50, has lived in Hong Kong for 11 years and has participated in the Songkran celebration every year. A waitress at a Thai restaurant in the neighbourhood, Sunittha said the move to the Carpenter Road Park was the “correct decision”.
“Those who want to join can still join the activities,” she said. “But passers-by and onlookers don’t have to worry about getting wet.”
At the adjacent bazaar, nearly 30 stalls touted a range of Thai and local delicacies, such as curry fishballs, coconut water and meat skewers. Participants could also enjoy live electronic music and Thai boxing performances.
Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing visited the bazaar with Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen and Thai consul general Chaturont Chaiyakam on Saturday afternoon.
Cheuk said some of the performers had flown from Thailand for the three-day festival. Chaiyakam also joined in the water spraying at the basketball court and they both left the venue soaked after 10 minutes, he added.
“To revitalise the neighbourhood’s economy, merchants in Kowloon City have provided various discounts to allow residents and tourists to spend happily together,” he said. “I hope everyone has a great time. I would also like to express my gratitude here.”
Mak said that if people were found splashing water outside the basketball courts, she believed law enforcement would exercise their discretion.
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Sellers were offering chilled young coconuts for HK$22 (US$2.8) a piece and a set of five skewers for HK$80.
A masseuse in charge of a booth offering a 15-minute Thai massage for HK$30 said they used traditional Thai ointment but customers could also choose herbal balls or hot stones.
A young coconut seller surnamed Yau said she was confident about sale levels and expected to empty the entire inventory of 500 fruits over the day.
A Thai restaurateur, who had also set up a stall offering young coconuts and skewers, said he hoped the celebration would help drive spending in the neighbourhood.
“I hope sales will be 10 to 20 per cent higher than last year,” he said.
