Huge crowds expected for dragon boat races in June
Thousands of paddlers are to make a splash in Victoria Harbour during next month’s Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, with the event expected to draw crowds of spectators. The races, jointly organised by the Tourism Board and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association, will be held on June 15 and 16.  More than 4,000 athletes from a dozen countries and regions, including China, Thailand and Singapore, will take part. Teams from the Hong Kong and Macau SARs will also compete. Participants this year will also have a chance to join special races commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.  The tourism body will also host a drone show for the Tuen Ng Festival and a pyrotechnic display on the first evening of the races.  “The whole event, we believe, would help to enable our Hong Kong community, our residents, as well as our tourists [to have a] tremendous, happy and interesting experience,” said the board’s executive director Dane Cheng.  “We expect it would draw around 130,000 visitors and patrons to this event, and together, we would be hoping that everyone would enjoy and have a good time.” Cheng said the festivities, including the races and other shows, carry a price tag of HK$17 million.