Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in NYC Celebrates 35 Years of Culture, Sport, and Community Unity

2025-08-10 08:36 Last Updated At：08:48

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York celebrates 35 years of sporting spirit and cultural vibrancy

The annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY) marked its 35th anniversary with a vibrant celebration of sport, culture, and community at Meadow Lake, in Flushing Meadows Corona Park over the weekend (August 9 and 10, New York time).

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Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York celebrates 35 years of sporting spirit and cultural vibrancy Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York celebrates 35 years of sporting spirit and cultural vibrancy Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Launched by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO), the festival has grown from humble beginnings into one of the largest and most iconic events of its kind in the United States. Today, it stands as a much-anticipated fixture on New York's cultural and sporting calendar, inspiring similar celebrations across the country and showcasing the enduring appeal and rich heritage of dragon boat racing.

At the festival's opening ceremony, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, highlighted the unique role of the event in fostering tradition, athleticism, and cross-cultural connection.

"The festival celebrates cultural heritage, community spirit, and the enduring legacy of dragon boat racing. It also strengthens the ties between Hong Kong and the East Coast of the United States, fostering deeper cultural exchange and friendship," Ms Ho said.

"With its exhilarating races and vibrant cultural showcases, the festival captures the dynamic energy shared by both Hong Kong and New York."

Ms Ho also expressed her appreciation for the support and participation of organisations, including Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Association of New York, and alumni associations of various Hong Kong universities.

She added that the New York ETO remains committed to promoting Hong Kong's creativity and cultural vibrancy through arts, films, and community events like the dragon boat festival - furthering its role as a unique East-meets-West hub for international cultural exchange.

Festivities for this year's HKDBF-NY began on July 30 with a traditional "awakening ceremony" in Central Park. Ms Ho, New York City Parks Commissioner Ms Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, and representatives of the festival's major sponsors participated in the symbolic eye-dotting ritual, "awakening" the dragons and bringing good fortune to the racers. On August 8, the festival's organising committee was honoured to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, further cementing the festival's significance in the city's cultural and business life.

The two-day event drew over 180 teams from across the United States, competing in thrilling dragon boat races. Beyond the races, attendees enjoyed an array of festivities, including a lively Hong Kong Food Street, cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, and live music - making the festival a true celebration of tradition and multicultural unity.

Hong Kong Customs Seizes $3.4 Million in Drugs, Two Arrested at Airport and Yau Ma Tei.

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport and Yau Ma Tei respectively on April 1 and yesterday (April 2), and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

In the first case, a 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand on April 1. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside food packaging in his baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Yau Ma Tei on April 2, Customs officers intercepted a 41-year-old man and later escorted him to a hotel room nearby for a search and seized about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, a drug inhaling apparatus and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 4).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in NYC Celebrates 35 Years of Culture, Sport, and Community Unity

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