For the past 20 years, the Hong Kong Student Association’s Hong Kong Night has been a low-key event that most University students didn’t know about. As the organization’s new director, University junior Kenny Fan wanted to change that while showcasing Hong Kong’s diversity.
“I just want to share the Hong Kong culture, the mix of Western and Eastern is the biggest thing,” said Fan, who added that an estimated 400 people – twice as many as last year – will be attending Sunday’s Hong Kong Night.
Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a nearly autonomous division of the People’s Republic of China that was owned by the United Kingdom until 11 years ago. Fan said the combination of British and Chinese influences is what makes Hong Kong so culturally diverse.
At Hong Kong Night – which is endorsed by Greek Life, and sponsored by Taboo Nightclub and The Duck Store – there will be a variety of musical performances in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Performers include On the Rocks and Divisi, the University’s respective male and female a capella groups, as well as the University’s dance team, the UO Jam Squad. Members of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity will also do a boy band performance.
At a glance
Hong Kong Night will take place Sunday at 6 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets, which are available in the EMU Ticket Office, are $6 for University students and $7 for the general public.. |
Both hip-hop and boy bands are very popular in Hong Kong, Fan said.
“It’s not that much different,” said HKSA Community Chair Nathan Uram, a University sophomore. “It’s a different place with different people, but a lot of stuff (Americans) like, (Hong Kong people) like.”
Uram, Fan’s Delta Sigma Phi brother, got involved with HKSA this year and is looking forward to his first Hong Kong Night.
“I just love experiencing other cultures, so just dealing with this and learning more about Hong Kong has been very interesting,” he said.
The event will be emceed by Portland model Vivi Bory and catered by Panda Express. Hong Kong Night’s fliers, which refer to the night as “most likely the best cultural night ever,” promise “lots of orange chicken.”
Through its extra publicity, such as tabling and the Greek Life endorsement, Hong Kong Night could be one of the University’s largest cultural events, second only to Hawaii Club’s annual Luau, Fan said.
HKSA Public Relations Chair Edward Tsoi, a University junior, said, “The Hong Kong Student Association has two main goals: to connect with Hong Kong people in Eugene and U of O, and make connections. Our other goal is to let Americans know about us.”
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