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Manneken-Pis joins the celebrations for the Hong Kong 20th anniversary

Manneken-Pis joins the celebrations for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s 20th anniversary: come and enjoy the traditional dressing ceremony, singing and beer on Friday 30 June.

The Brussels icon will be dressed in his Hong Kong suit to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on 1 July 1997.

The brief, but not-to-be-missed, ceremony, a highlight of Brussels folklore, will take place from 11:30 am to 12:00 noon.

Manneken-Pis sprays the crowd

The costume, which was donated to the City of Brussels by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels in 2012, aims to convey a positive message about Hong Kong as a modern and connected city with a Chinese heritage.  The design encapsulates the East-meets-West aspects of Hong Kong in a way that is instantly recognisable.  A black traditional Chinese jacket bearing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s flying dragon logo and its coloured ribbons is teamed with a pair of trendy black jeans and red shoes with white laces.  A tablet computer, a symbol of technology-driven modern city life, completes the costume.

A Hong Kong cappella choral theatre group  named Yat Po Singers (一舖清唱), which focuses on developing original theatrical works,  will perform three songs at the event, namely  « Hong Kong Our Home » (香港・我家), specially composed on the occasion of the 20th anniversary,  « Horse Race »  (賽馬) and « Man in the mirror ».

According to his custom on festive occasions, the fountain statue will produce beer. Another good reason to join.