75th National Day Farm and Gourmet Festival opens today (with photos)
The 75th National Day Farm and Gourmet Festival runs for four consecutive days between today (September 28) and October 1 at Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok to showcase a variety of local agricultural and fisheries products, offer authentic Hong Kong style cuisine and share the joy of National Day with members of the public.
Officiating at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. By co-organising the Festival, the departments bring together local agricultural, fisheries, and catering industries to promote local agricultural and fisheries products and authentic cuisine. Members of the public can share the joy by indulging in this sumptuous feast for the eyes, ears and palate at the Festival.
The Festival is co-organised by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD); the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD); the Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO); and the Fish Marketing Organization (FMO). Themed "Celebrating National Day Together, Vibrant Farm and Gourmet Exhibition, Intangible Cultural Heritage Adds Charm, Celebrities Perform for All", a total of 60 agricultural and fisheries stalls will be on-site offering an array of agricultural and fisheries products for sale, including premium agricultural products (such as eggplants, mushrooms, dragon fruits, corn, sweet potatoes and various hydroponic vegetables) produced by local organic, accredited and hydroponic farms. Fresh fisheries products (such as spiny lobsters, pompanos, grey mullets, jade perches and speckled blue grouper) cultured and produced by local accredited fish farms, as well as premium local dried fisheries products, are also on offer.
​The FMO and the VMO have also set up stalls to sell premium local agricultural and fisheries products, along with several newly launched signature products (including cherry wood smoked cobia fillet, four different flavors of collagen jelly and Shanghai smoked fish) for members of the public to choose from. In addition, there are 26 gourmet stalls on-site offering a variety of delicate dim sum, desserts and street food, as well as authentic cuisine made from local agricultural and fisheries products for members of the public to enjoy.
Meanwhile, with a view to allowing members of the public to learn more about the latest developments in local agricultural and fisheries industries, the Hong Kong agricultural and fisheries technology exhibition has been set up at the Festival. The exhibition area demonstrates how the industry boosts productivity, enhances the quality of local produce and promotes the sustainable development of the industries with the use of technology. The exhibition area provides an opportunity for members of the public to experience controlled environment hydroponic technology, farm mechanisation, smart greenhouse technology and a modern mariculture demonstration farm through virtual reality. Additionally, the exhibition area showcases a recirculating aquaculture system featuring newly cultivated local fisheries species. Visitors can also participate in agriculture and fisheries workshops to experience organic seedling planting and Gyotaku printing, as well as acquiring agricultural and fisheries knowledge and winning prizes by participating in booth games. Furthermore, a photo-taking spot displaying seasonal local crops and mascots of the Agriculture Hall and the Fisheries Hall is set up in the exhibition area for the public to take photos.
The FEHD will also set up a food and environmental hygiene exhibition area at the venue to introduce various livelihood-related services provided by the Department, including public cleansing services, and information relating to food business licenses. The Centre for Food Safety of the FEHD will also disseminate food safety information and introduce its collaboration with the food trade in safeguarding food safety. Apart from watching videos, members of the public may also participate in quiz games on interactive electronic devices in the exhibition area. The FEHD's publicity vehicle, the Mobile Education Centre, will also be parked at the venue to allow members of the public to learn about food, personal and environmental hygiene in a fun and educational way. In addition, a photo-taking spot featuring Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak will be set up in the exhibition area to publicise the message of "Keep Hong Kong clean, we can do it".
The Festival features an array of exhibitions related to intangible cultural heritage of the Mainland and Hong Kong. These exhibitions highlight the inheritance and transformation of Chinese culture for family enjoyment. The Festival also offers a variety of entertaining performances, including singing and cultural performances, as well as cooking demonstrations. Moreover, souvenirs will be given out while stocks last to visitors who answer simple questions related to the 75th National Day and the Festival.
Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony include Legislative Council Members Mr Tommy Cheung, Mr Steven Ho, Mr Yang Wing-kit; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Miss Vivian Lau; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Ms Irene Young; and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai.
The Festival is open from 10am to 8pm, with a free shuttle bus service provided by the organisers available to and from Shek Kip Mei MTR Station Exit C. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome. Details of the event can be found at www.afcd.gov.hk/english/The75thNationalDayFarmandGourmetFestival/Main.html and on the Festival's social media pages.
The Farm and Gourmet Festival is one of the highlight events in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. For the latest information regarding other events, please visit the dedicated website (www.nationalday75.gov.hk/en).
