A dragon boat sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) glided across the Central Park Lake this morning (July 20, New York time) as part of the festivities leading up to the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York.
      
     Representatives of the Festival organising committee, HKETONY, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and other sponsors took part in the "eye-dotting" ceremony to bring the dragon boats alive for the upcoming Festival to be held on August 12 and 13 at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park. 
      
     Addressing the ceremony, the Director of the HKETONY, Ms Candy Nip, said the Festival represents the Office's commitment to promoting Chinese culture, Hong Kong traditions as well as friendship between Hong Kong and New York.
      
     The HKETONY first introduced modern dragon boat racing to New Yorkers in 1991 with 10 teams competing on the Hudson River. Since then, the Festival has become an annual summer extravaganza on the city's event calendar. Over 170 teams will contest each other on strength, stamina, technique and sportsmanship on the Meadow Lake this year.

Ends/Friday, July 21, 2023
Issued at HKT 8:25

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