Some members of the public have shrugged off official requests not to visit Cheung Chau for the holiday today and went to the island anyway - even though the annual bun scrambling competition is not taking place. The competition, in which people clamber up bamboo structures to grab buns, was cancelled in February, as part of social distancing measures intended to stem the spread of coronavirus. The traditional festival had been due to run until May the first, drawing tens of thousands of spectators. One woman said she decided to come to Cheung Chau to buy buns to wish her family and Hong Kong well. A New World First Ferry spokesperson said about 5,900 people took ferries from Central to Cheung Chau between 8:00am and 12:00pm, a drop of about 50 percent year-on-year.-RTHK/The Standard

Source: The Standard April 30, 2020 04:18 UTC