More than 2,000 Hong Kong people joined their families and friends for a Heritage Big Bowl reunion feast prior to the Chinese New Year at the Kai Tak Departure Hall today.

The “Hong Kong Together” Heritage Big Bowl Carnival, organized jointly by the “Hong Kong Together” Campaign Joint Working Committee, the Home Affairs Department and the Association of Restaurant Managers, is the grand finale of a series of events and activities that have been held in the past few months in a continued effort to unite the community and to boost confidence in Hong Kong in the face of the current economic difficulties.

“The Chinese people have always regarded food & drink as a very important part of their lives. The ‘Hong Kong Together’ Campaign also believes that ‘to eat is to live’ and has joined in this event to celebrate Chinese traditions as well as to demonstrate the enthusiasm of the people of Hong Kong to join together as a united community,” said Mr. George Yuen, Convenor of the “Hong Kong Together” Campaign Joint Working Committee and Chief Executive of the Better Hong Kong Foundation.

“Without the enormous support of the Association of Restaurant Managers, it would have been impossible to hold such a grand event. Likewise, the Government Property Agency made it possible for the usage of the Kai Tak Departure Hall and the Home Affairs Department has made exceptional contributions in coordinating this exciting event,” Mr. Yuen continued.

Mr. Wilson Wong, Vice Chairman of the Association of Restaurant Managers said, “This is the largest indoor Heritage Big Bowl Feast in Hong Kong in which over 2,000 people will be served under one roof and at the same time. The tradition began during China’s Song Dynasty when the King of Song escaped to Guangdong, and upon his arrival, the people there served him dinner, using a big bowl containing a variety of food.”

He continued by saying, “The restaurant sector is proud to participate in this monumental event and to join together for the first time in a concerted effort to support the “Hong Kong Together” Campaign. Also, we sincerely hope that families, friends and neighbours will take this opportunity to come together and enjoy the meal!”

In addition to the traditional banquet, a bazaar with 20 stalls for fun and games will also be set up in the departure hall by various participating sectors and organisations such as Employee Retraining Board, restaurants and hotels.

Mrs Shelley Lau, Director of the Home Affairs Department, was the guest-of-honour at the Carnival. She was joined by Mrs Nellie Fong, Executive Councillor of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Executive Committee Chairman of the Better Hong Kong Foundation. Television stars from the famous TVB Jade soap drama, “A Kindred Spirit,” also attended the Carnival in support of the Campaign.

The event was held on 31 January 1999 (Sunday) starting at 11:00 am. Tickets were sold in hundreds of “Hong Kong Together” Campaign participating restaurants and the cost per table is HK$1,800 (12 tickets), including service charge and drinks.

“Hong Kong Together” ” is a community-led confidence building campaign aimed at uniting all sectors of community and motivating Hong Kong people to work together to instill public confidence. This initiative is to encourage public togetherness as well as to engender much-valued civic spirit in the community. The Better Hong Kong Foundation together with representatives from 11 sectors in the community form the Joint Working Committee steering the Campaign.