Gala dinner celebrates successful completion of 30th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (with photos)

     About 250 guests joined a gala dinner on the shore of Central Park Lake this evening (August 4, New York time) to celebrate the successful completion of the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York.
 
     The dinner was co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY) and the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York Incorporation.
 
     Addressing the gala dinner, the HKETONY Director, Ms Candy Nip, said she was thrilled to see that the festival has paddled its way back to Flushing Meadows Corona Park at full capacity. This two-day event attracted over 170 teams and about 40 000 participants. She thanked the participating teams, sponsors, volunteers and media partners for their support in making the festival a resounding success.
 
     Commenting on the spectacular races, Ms Nip said that she is overjoyed with the remarkable results of the Hong Kong and Friends Dragon Riders Team this year. The team won championship titles in four open and invitational races, and was first and second-runners up in two other races. Ms Nip said it is particularly meaningful that the team took home the trophy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) 25th Anniversary Challenge Race. Medals aside, Ms Nip considered friendship and sportsmanship the most precious takeaways.
 
     ​The 30th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York is one of the programmes in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.