The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) hosted the \u201cMeGoOut Rural Food Carnival and Kat O Tin Hau Festival Celebration\u201d last Saturday (9 May) on Kat O. Funded by the Countryside Conservation Office (CCO), under the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the event was themed \u201cVillage Taste\u201d and attracted over 1,000 members of the public and guests. Through a diverse array of activities blending flavour and tradition, the carnival bridged urban and rural heritage and allowed the public to experience the unique charm of Kat O, which has been recognised as a national \u201cOutstanding Example of Beautiful Bays\u201d by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People\u2019s Republic of China.<\/p>\r\n
Professor Anthony Chan<\/strong>, CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Alumni, Community Relations and Institutional Advancement), delivered welcome remarks, saying: \u201cThe MeGoOut project demonstrates CUHK\u2019s commitment to social responsibility by using academic strengths to connect with the community and drive sustainable rural development through cultural revitalisation. The initiative supports the government\u2019s Northern Metropolis development strategy, which emphasises parallel development and conservation alongside urban-rural integration. Located off the coast of Sha Tau Kok, Kat O boasts precious ecology, profound Hakka culture and a century-old Tin Hau Festival tradition. Through this carnival, we aim to leverage academic insights and practical experience to explore sustainable rural tourism models and provide evidence-based recommendations for eco-tourism in the Sha Tau Kok area, facilitating the long-term, balanced development of the Northern Metropolis.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Professor Stephen Tang<\/strong>, Head of the CCO, said: \u201cCultural revival is a key driver of rural revitalisation. The carnival successfully connected urban residents into the village through traditional food, handicraft markets, exhibitions and cooking competitions, offering them a first-hand experience of local hospitality and culture. This is the perfect embodiment of urban-rural integration. We hope that similar events will help us explore rural tourism models that strike a balance between ecological conservation, community well-being and visitor experience, accumulating valuable insights for Hong Kong\u2019s future rural conservation directions.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Mr Ma Sang-ho<\/strong>, Village Head of Kat O, added: \u201cThe event coincided with the actual day of the Tin Hau Festival. Kat O villagers followed century-old customs by hosting a Tin Hau parade and snatching Fa Pao. This is not just a religious belief but also the cultural roots of the Hakka and boat-dwelling \u00a0people, passed down through generations. We hope this event serves as a bridge that unites rural and urban areas, allowing Kat O\u2019s culture to be preserved while helping sustainable rural tourism in Hong Kong take a valuable step forward.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Professor Lisa Wan Chun-ying<\/strong>, Project Lead and Associate Professor at CUHK SHTM, noted: \u201cWhat the MeGoOut project hopes to do is not just to bring people \u2018for a visit\u2019, but to let them truly \u2018step into\u2019 the village. Through in-depth experiences and public participation, we aim to build an emotional connection between people and villages, ensuring these communities are seen, cherished and preserved. This event combines traditional festive celebrations, village delicacies, creative markets and a culinary competition, we linked the city and the countryside, letting everyone feel the vibrant life of a Hakka fishing village.\u201d<\/p>\r\n The carnival featured a rich line-up of programmes, including a Hakka unicorn dance, a Tin Hau parade, a Fa Pao (firecrackers) snatching contest, local and creative markets, and a \u201cFlavours of Hakka\u201d culinary competition. Live music performances and thematic cultural exhibitions were also held, fully showcasing Kat O\u2019s historical depth and community vitality. The event fulfilled the project\u2019s mission of \u201cadvancing sustainable rural development through cultural revitalisation\u201d. By harmonising ecological conservation with community well-being and visitor engagement, it provides academic and practical insights for the ongoing discourse on opening the Sha Tau Kok Closed Area and injects fresh momentum into the living transmission of Kat O\u2019s intangible cultural heritage.<\/p>\r\n About MeGoOut<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Initiated by CUHK\u2019s SHTM and funded by the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme of the Countryside Conservation Office, MeGoOut aims to showcase the unique natural and cultural heritage of three ancient villages: Mui Tsz Lam, Kuk Po and Kat O. The project strives to build a premier brand for in-depth eco-tourism in rural Hong Kong. By organising immersive village tours and events, it encourages public participation in natural and cultural conservation, promoting sustainable development, with long-lasting positive impacts on rural communities. The name \u201cMeGoOut\u201d puns on the names of the three villages, Mui Tsz Lam (Me), Kuk Po (Go) and Kat O (Out), reflecting the philosophy of stepping out of the city, journeying between the mountains and the sea, and discovering the many pleasures of Hong Kong\u2019s countryside.<\/p>","show_as_achievement":false,"achievement_category":[],"show_as_clarification":false,"show_as_announcement":false,"photos":[{"photo":236241,"caption":"CUHK\u2019s SHTM hosts the \u201cMeGoOut Village Food Carnival and Kat O Tin Hau Festival Celebration\u201d."},{"photo":236242,"caption":"Professor Anthony Chan, CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Alumni, Community Relations and Institutional Advancement), delivers welcome remarks."},{"photo":236245,"caption":"Professor Stephen Tang, Head of the Countryside Conservation Office, delivers a speech."},{"photo":236244,"caption":"Mr Ma Sang-ho, Village Head of Kat O, delivers a speech."},{"photo":236243,"caption":"Professor Lisa Wan Chun-ying, Project Lead and Associate Professor at CUHK SHTM, delivers a speech."},{"photo":236240,"caption":"The carnival kicks off with traditional performances, including acrobatics, lion dances and a Hakka Unicorn Dance, showcasing the unique charm of Kat O."},{"photo":236246,"caption":"The carnival featured a rich line-up of programmes, including the Tin Hau parade, local food and creative markets, and a \u201cFlavours of Hakka\u201d culinary competition."},{"photo":236249,"caption":"The carnival featured a rich line-up of programmes, including the Tin Hau parade, local food and creative markets, and a \u201cFlavours of Hakka\u201d culinary competition."},{"photo":236247,"caption":"The carnival featured a rich line-up of programmes, including the Tin Hau parade, local food and creative markets, and a \u201cFlavours of Hakka\u201d culinary competition."},{"photo":236248,"caption":"The carnival attracted over 1,000 members of the public and guests, receiving an enthusiastic response."}],"attachments":null,"video_source":"","video_file":"","add_play_button":false,"video_caption":"","show_migration":false,"original_id":0,"photos_original":null,"attachments_original":null,"cover_photo":236241,"fb_photo":null,"cover_image":null},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/236239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/236239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":236252,"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/236239\/revisions\/236252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=236239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}