London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2007

Sunday 1st of July 2007 marked the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the London Chinatown Chinese Association, working in association with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (acting on behalf of the Chinese Government) and the London Chinatown Lions Club needed an extra special event to celebrate this exceptional occasion.

With dragon boating originating in China some 2,000 years ago and now rapidly growing as a cultural and sporting event both here in the UK and internationally, it was not surprising that a major festival featuring dragon boating was planned. The venue for this event was the London Regatta Centre and to celebrate the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's tenth anniversary, Sunday 1st of July was the date for The 2007 London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival.

With guests of honour that included senior members of the Chinese Embassy as well as senior members of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (the event’s main sponsors) and the Chinatown Chinese Association and the London Chinatown Lions Club (the event's organisers), only the UK's best and most experienced Dragon Boat Company would ever be good enough for an event of this size and importance.

Not surprisingly, the London Chinatown Chinese Association turned to Dragon Boat Events Ltd. as their company of preference. Already experienced in running large festivals (the UK’s – and possibly Europe’s – largest annual dragon boat event is run by Dragon Boat Events Ltd. on Bewl Water in Kent), Dragon Boat Events Ltd. was the natural choice.

The Dragon Boat Events team soon had the dragon boats all lined up and ready, the flags proudly flying in a brisk wind and the stage set up for later in the day. They also organised and erected all the marquees that were to be used through out the day by both the teams and businesses.

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