Who knows what the Year of the Rooster will bring, but there are more than a few things worth getting excited about, so here is what we’re looking forward to most
Political mixing bowl
Looking forward might be a bit too optimistic, but this year is definitely going to be interesting. With all the elections coming up, the world could be a very different place by the time the dog creeps in the door. We have our own chief executive election happening. Mongolia, Singapore and South Korea are all in a presidential election year. But the really interesting stuff is going on in Europe, which could follow the United States with a swing to the right. France, Germany and the Netherlands are the big ones to watch.
Susan Ramsay, Editor
Mapping out some adventures
I’ve planned a lot of travelling this year, and I’m super excited. I’ll be travelling to Australia with Hong Kong Airlines later this week (OMG!!!) and I’m going to be in London in July. I have some other trips planned, but they involve surprises for special people so I can’t talk about it. Shhh! I spent many years Hong Kong-bound, and I can’t wait for the new experiences I’ll discover this year, and familiar faces I’ll get to see again. It’s been too long.
Heidi Yeung, Web sub-editor
A year at the cinema
This year will be a great year for movies. From The Lego Batman Movie to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, there is a lot to look forward to on the big screen, no matter what you’re into. In particular, live-action remakes will be big news, and the most highly anticipated of these has to be Beauty and the Beast. If that’s not your thing, Despicable Me 3 is also coming out, as well as Wonder Woman, Power Rangers, The Emoji Movie, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And who could forget Justice League? Grab some popcorn and get ready to spend the Year of the Rooster at the cinema!
Lucy Christie, Sub-editor
Let’s get this over with!
I’m looking forward to this year being over already so we can move on to the Year of the Dog. Why? Well, dogs are a lot more fun than chickens, so I imagine that next year there will be a tonne of awesome, hilarious dog videos on YouTube. While it’s true that roosters are probably a lot more tasty than dogs, I don’t think they’re very friendly or very trustworthy. I think it all goes back to the time that chicken beat me at tic-tac-toe at the carnival. To this day I am SURE he was cheating!
Sam Gusway, Sub-editor
Fortune in my favour
Great films (Beauty and the Beast), great events (Hamilton : an American Musical opening in London), great songs (too many, don’t make me choose) – 2017 seems to be shaping up to be something awesome. And on a personal level, a fortune-teller at the Wong Tai Sin temple recently told me that I’m meant to be having a GREAT year, so ... yeah. I guess I’m looking forward to everything.
Ginny Wong, Sub-editor
Enjoying the 852
I’m looking forward to a number of staycations at Hong Kong’s gorgeous hotels this year. Staycations are an alternative way to stay away from my home and work. I need some time to rest. Once I’ve had time to relax, I can come back to work with a fresh mind, ready to write more stories on everything from study tips to the colours of MTR stations ...
Ben Pang, Reporter
Music to my ears
Albums, albums, albums. The return of heavy metal band Mastodon in March can’t come quick enough. And folk singer Laura Marling will reveal her new direction this year. Alternative rockers Mew will be back in action, synthpop group Future Islands will make their return, and rockers Temples will release their second album in the next few months. Those are just my highlights, though: keep your ears peeled for lots of new music from Gorillaz, Jesus and the Mary Chain, U2, Slowdive, and Marilyn Manson. Some of the best music has come from times of turmoil, so that’s something we can look forward to this year at least.
Lauren James, Reporter
Female athletes for the win
Women’s sports don’t get a lot of media coverage, but I’m hoping that will change this year, here at least, seeing as the Hong Kong team qualified for the Women’s Rugby World Cup. This is a brilliant achievement for our city, and, of course, for the players involved, and I can’t wait to follow their exploits. I’m also really excited to see Serena Williams defend her Wimbledon title for the eighth time, following her win (over her sister!) at the Australian Open, and no doubt more great play still to come before that ultimate championship. And obviously I’ll be keeping a close eye on young Hongkongers competing in the summer and winter universiade games, in Taipei and Almaty, Kazakhstan, respectively. Go Team HK!
Karly Cox, Deputy editor
Edited by Lucy Christie