(New Year News) Floats cannot change the mood - Interview with the team behind the Hong Kong New Year Float Parade

　　China News Service, Hong Kong, February 8th: Title: Floats cannot change the mood - Interview with the team behind the Hong Kong New Year Float Parade

　　China News Service reporter Dai Menglan

　　Wei Qiancheng, who has more than ten years of experience in making floats, is still frightened when he recalls a sudden breakdown of a float during a parade one year. "Just before the parade, the generator suddenly overheated and shut down, and all the lanterns could not light up. We were shocked!" He said. Fortunately, team members quickly used fans to cool down the generator, and the parade finally went on smoothly.

　　After five years of absence, this year’s Hong Kong New Year Parade will once again meet with citizens and tourists in Tsim Sha Tsui on the evening of February 10 (the first day of the Lunar New Year). The team of Hong Kong Yi Zhong Communication Co., Ltd. led by Wei Qiancheng is responsible for the production of two floats for the Asian Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Hong Kong Quality Tourism Services Association this year. In an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service on the 7th, Wei Qiancheng introduced the story behind the production of the float of the Asian Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The picture shows Wei Qiancheng, general manager of Hong Kong Yizhong Communication Co., Ltd., taking a photo with the float of the Asian Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Photo by China News Service reporter Dai Menglan

　　"The most prominent feature of the design of this float is the raised dragon head, which is also the most difficult part to make." Wei Qiancheng explained that in addition to the three-dimensional shape of the dragon, it also needs to achieve the visual effect of internal light. , so the team used the traditional lantern production method - first make the skeleton, then install the lights inside, and finally put the dragon shape on the outside to achieve a vivid visual experience.

　　In addition to embodying the image of the dragon, this float also uses ingenuity in other parts of the body. Wei Qiancheng introduced that in accordance with the requirements of the Asian Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the float not only presented the latest development achievements of the country such as high-speed rail, C919 large aircraft, Beijing Daxing International Airport, "Jiaolong", etc., but also displayed various mainland provinces in turn through LED screens. With the characteristics of district and city cultural tourism, cultural and tourism slogans from various places are also printed on the bauhinia pattern representing Hong Kong. The overall body reflects the joyful Spring Festival atmosphere. It is hoped that Hong Kong citizens and overseas tourists will know more about the mainland and consider traveling to the mainland in the future.

　　Wei Qiancheng said the float took about two months from design to completion. All components of the vehicle except the chassis are manufactured at the company's factory in Dongguan, Guangdong, and then transferred in batches to the workshop in Yuen Long, Hong Kong for assembly. Due to the epidemic, Hong Kong’s New Year float parade has been suspended for five years. Taking into account the audience's acceptance, the team adhered to the idea of ​​​​"stability while making progress" in the production of floats this year, and did not use particularly avant-garde technology and craftsmanship. "But AI is the trend now, and we may consider adding AI elements next." Wei Qiancheng said with a smile.

The picture shows Leong Chung-yi, chairman of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Transport Drivers Practitioners Association, driving a float commemorating the 130th anniversary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2015. (File photo) Photo provided by interviewee

　　In addition to exquisite production craftsmanship, a wonderful float parade also requires careful and steady driving skills of the float driver. This is the last time that 64-year-old Leung Chung-yi, chairman of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Transport Drivers and Employees Association, will serve as a float driver. He said that although the speed of the floats is below 5 kilometers per hour, the most important thing is still driving safety. Because the float parade is Hong Kong's tourism brand and represents the image of Hong Kong, it cannot be compromised.

　　Liang Zhongyi further explained that due to the dense crowds during the float parade, each float is equipped with a driver and a deputy driver. The driver is responsible for operating the float, and the deputy driver is responsible for observing and looking out. "There are performance groups around the floats. Sometimes they may be so engrossed in their performance that they forget that the floats around them are moving, so pay close attention to whether they will be hit by the floats."

　　During the interview, Liang Zhongyi showed reporters the uniforms of his employees who have participated in the New Year float parade for many years. He recalled that after driving so many floats, the one that impressed him most was the scene in 2015 when he drove the float commemorating the 130th anniversary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The float was decorated with the famous "Lijia Lion" lion heads from Foshan, Guangdong. All the lion heads were handmade using traditional crafts and were very impressive. Later, when the float was dismantled, Liang Zhongyi specifically applied to the organizer to collect a lion head. "Now the lion head is placed in my home. I think it is very commemorative."

　　Having worked behind the scenes for many years, both Wei Qiancheng and Liang Zhongyi are full of emotions about the float parade. Wei Qiancheng said that every time a float parades, the team will send people to follow the float to ensure that it is on board. Watching the audience on both sides of the road happily cheering, everyone feels very satisfied. Liang Zhongyi, who is about to retire, is also looking forward to various cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area organizing float parades in the future, and driving floats with friends all the way around the Greater Bay Area. (over)