Organisers of Hong Kong’s first ever Portuguese festival have slammed the local government for obstructive red tape.
The Sardine Festival will take place from 29 August until 1 September at an open air site in Central, near the city’s famous waterfront. However, putting the 4-day event together has been an ordeal for organisers, according to the South China Morning Post.
Cristina Salavarria told the paper that government-run venues had to be booked a year in advance and that the process was extremely cumbersome, with officials tardy in their responses.
“If you want to hold a concert, you have to submit dates, and you get three options each time,” she told the Post. “After four to six weeks, you get an answer saying ‘no, it’s fully booked’, so you have to keep repeating the process.”
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Salavarria said the festival had received help from the Hong Kong Tourism Board but added that other government departments were not aligned with the board’s efforts to promote the city as a lively events hub.
“They are not together,” she said. “It’s very difficult to deal with some people inside the government.”
The event is set to feature traditional Portuguese food, live music and performances by Portuguese DJs, including Lisbon club legend DJ Phoebe.
Day passes cost HK$80, with a four-day VIP pass priced at $250.
