New Arts Corner Launches in Hong Kong Park January 2025 with Handicrafts and Cultural Activities

Arts Corner adds appeal to Hong Kong Park

A new phase of the Arts Corner will be launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in Hong Kong Park starting from January 1, 2025. Visitors can stroll around a wide array of traditional and trendy handicrafts and arts services stalls while enjoying their leisure in the park.

The 25th phase of the Arts Corner in Hong Kong Park will run from January 1 till December 31 next year, and will be open from noon to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at the outdoor area near the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware in the park. The Arts Corner comprises 10 handicrafts and arts services stalls, displaying and selling various kinds of handicrafts and artistic works such as fabric crafts and ornaments, as well as providing cultural and arts services including painting, portrait sketching and calligraphy.

"The Arts Corner aims to enhance public interest in arts and enrich the arts atmosphere in Hong Kong. It will also make the park a more appealing and enjoyable place for visitors," a spokesman for the department said.

Apart from Hong Kong Park, an Arts Fun Fair and another Arts Corner are being held at Kowloon Park and Victoria Park respectively.

The 26th phase of the Arts Fun Fair at Kowloon Park is now open between 1pm and 7pm every Sunday and on public holidays. It will continue until May 31 next year at the park's Loggia. There are 18 stalls displaying and selling craftworks including floral artworks and ornaments, as well as arts services including painting and calligraphy.

The 23rd phase of the Arts Corner in Victoria Park is also open now, from 10am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays, until September 28 next year at South Pavilion Plaza in the park. There are eight stalls displaying and selling craftworks such as fabric crafts, leather goods and ornaments, as well as providing photography services.

"The Arts Corner has been well received in past years. Apart from stopping at the Arts Corner, park-goers can also visit other facilities in the parks and spend some pleasant time there," a spokesman for the department said.

For enquiries, please call 2521 5041 (Hong Kong Park), 2724 3344 (Kowloon Park) or 2890 5824 (Victoria Park).

Arts Corner adds appeal to Hong Kong Park Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Arts Corner adds appeal to Hong Kong Park Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Notes exchange service and electronic lai-see for Chinese New Year

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

​As the Chinese New Year draws near, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the three note-issuing banks (The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited) today (January 2) announced that new notes and good-as-new notes, i.e. used notes which are in good condition and suitable for use as lai-see, will be available for exchange at branches of the three note-issuing banks from January 14 (Tuesday) to January 28 (Tuesday).

The HKMA encourages the public to use electronic channels including the Faster Payment System available via online or mobile banking, or other e-wallet services for giving lai-see. Giving electronic lai-see is simple and convenient, and will contribute to sustainable development by reducing the usage of physical red packets and banknotes. Major banks and electronic payment operators will encourage giving electronic lai-see by various promotional programmes. The public may refer to the details of these programmes as and when announced by banks and operators.

The three note-issuing banks will put in place appropriate measures to facilitate the notes exchange, including:

(1)

Advancing the opening hour to 8am on the first 3 days of the service period, i.e. January 14 (Tuesday) to January 16 (Thursday), and dedicating the aforesaid additional operation hours, i.e. 8am to 9am, exclusively for providing the notes exchange service;

(2)

Offering online booking service for both new notes and good-as-new notes starting from January 7 (Tuesday), details of which will be announced by individual note-issuing banks within next week; and

(3)

Putting in place crowd management measures such as distributing physical tickets and implementing queue management when needed.

​Members of the public who desire to use cash for giving lai-see may wish to check for any remaining stock of new notes or good-as-new notes at home before going to a bank. Also, there is no need to rush to exchange for new notes and good-as-new notes during the first few days of the service period as banks will ensure the supply of these notes throughout the service period.