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Star ferry converted into luxury yacht A classic Star Ferry, formerly known as Golden Star, has been converted into a luxury yacht. The yacht, now named Dot, took 18 months to convert with a full-time project manager on board. Dot’s owner is passionate about keeping Hong Kong’s heritage alive. He retained some of the original workmanship from the Star Ferry, including its original teak deck and upstairs deckhead. But added floor to ceiling windows and a mezzanine level. Larger than most Hong Kong apartments, Dot is 6,000 square foot and includes four cabins with en suite bathrooms, a cinema room, office, living room, kitchen and alfresco dining area. The yacht is currently for sale in Tai Tam for $21 million as its owners relocate to Europe.
The Grounds at AIA Vitality Park return The Central Harbourfront venue is a purposebuilt outdoor events area designed for the Covid era. Prior to the current restrictions being imposed, events including movie screenings, fitness classes and the Hong Kong Dining Awards were part of its offering. The outdoor entertainment hub offers 100 socially-distanced private pods, seating two to four people. A large LED screen and
state-of-the-art sound system is also in place to give guests a true outdoor cinema experience. “It is our intention to extend this run of The Grounds until after Easter,” said Simon Wilson, managing director of Greater Bay Media Entertainment and organiser of The Grounds. That means that events, film screenings and other events will likely run until April 6. thegroundshk.com
Cathay Pacific cuts major international flights As of February 20, Cathay Pacific temporarily suspended a bulk of its flights to Australia, with Sydney now the last remaining destination for the Hong Kong carrier. Other international flights to be slashed include Auckland, San Francisco, Vancouver, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. Cathay said the Hong Kong SAR government’s latest announcement over hotel quarantine was behind the moves. “Our Hong Kong-based pilots and cabin crew are required to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine, plus seven days of
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medical surveillance when they return to Hong Kong,” the airline said in a statement. “We are
actively managing our crew resources to plan for our flight services for March 2021.”
