Chiikawa toy craze grips Hong Kong as thousands queue for McDonald's promo meals
Some 20,000 customers were in line on the McDonald's reservation website at certain points on Monday after sales opened at 11am, and hundreds showed up at different outlets to queue for the special meal sets hours before they were made available.
The promotion was related to a three-week event called 'Chiikawa Days Exhibition', organised by Hong Kong studio AllRightReserved, which will begin in the city on August 1 at K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Chiikawa, which means 'something small and cute', is the name of the titular hamster protagonist created by Japanese artist Nagano.
As part of the promotion, eight different Chiikawa toys will be given away with Happy Meal purchases on Mondays and Fridays between July 28 and August 22 at 40 McDonald's outlets in the city.
At a McDonald's branch in Causeway Bay, Heiman Chan, 40, dressed in a Chiikawa T-shirt and carrying a Chiikawa plush doll on his shoulder, waited in line with his prepared QR code to collect the toy with his meal set.
'I found out online that McDonald's was selling Chiikawa Happy Meals, so I came especially to buy one today,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Aaron Kwok named honorary narcotics commissioner in anti-drugs push
Cantopop star Aaron Kwok Fu-shing has been appointed as an honorary narcotics commissioner as part of the Hong Kong government's latest campaign to stamp out the increasingly popular novel drug etomidate. Secretary of Security Chris Tang Ping-keung announced Kwok's honorary role at a publicity event for the 'Anti-Drug, New Era' campaign on Sunday, while the singer gave a performance of specially designed dance moves and chanted slogans with the audience. 'Your responsibility is to try and observe on campus. If any students are unfortunately trying etomidate, you should report them to rescue them from the clutches of drugs,' the singer told about 50 youth ambassadors at the event. Kwok also taught the new dance moves to the assembled youth ambassadors, who are expected to raise awareness at schools about the dangers of etomidate and other drugs. The government has stepped up efforts to crack down on etomidate, formerly known as 'space oil', including renaming the drug last week. The narcotic's main ingredient, from which it also gets its new name, was included in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in February. The narcotic is commonly sold in e-cigarette liquid capsules and used in vapes. Its main ingredient was originally used as an anaesthetic in hospitals or administered to animals in rare cases.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Scenes from Hong Kong's classic undercover films, from Infernal Affairs to Man on the Brink, on display at Tai Kwun
Enshrined in Tai Kwun's Duplex Studio is a dimly lit display of rebuilt sets from Hong Kong's classic undercover films of the 1980s to 2010s. The meticulous reconstructions of noteworthy scenes from eight crime films, such as Infernal Affairs and A Brighter Tomorrow, have been rebuilt across the halls of Tai Kwun's Block 01 for the 'Undercover Underworld' exhibition, which pays homage to the brilliance of local filmmaking while offering visitors a wistful and immersive experience. Presented in association with the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, the exhibition was curated by film director Sunny Chan Wing-san and Kristof Van den Troost, Assistant Professor of the Centre for China Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Timothy Calnin, Director of Tai Kwun Arts, explained the decision to focus on classic crime films. 'After paying tribute to the city's neon signage and vibrant popular music in previous summers, it was a natural extension to celebrate the world of Hong Kong cinema, which at its peak was rivalled in output only by Hollywood and Bollywood,' he said. 'What makes 'Undercover Underworld' particularly fitting for Tai Kwun is that thousands of real-life police dramas passed through these gates and cellblocks.' It also reflects a common theme in Hong Kong films. 'The undercover agent, often faced with difficult moral dilemmas and torn by conflicting loyalties, has been a staple of crime dramas here for nearly half a century,' Van den Troost said. The exhibition was curated by director Sunny Chan Wing-san (right) and Kristof Van den Troost, Assistant Professor of the Centre for China Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Tai Kwun The intoxicating atmosphere of the exhibition showcases the inner turmoil of an undercover agent and instils an otherworldly sense of pride in its subjects and their work. One display features an iconic scene from the multi-award-winning Infernal Affairs trilogy, showcasing the room where Tony Leung and Kelly Chen's characters have a psychiatry consultation. The set has been reconstructed with such perfection that you could almost hear the sighs and reflections from Leung during his role as an undercover police officer. It was this very film that proved Hong Kong's film industry worthy of global accolades: Warner Bros' The Departed – the licensed English-language remake of Infernal Affairs – won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2007. Scene 6 of 'Undercover Underworld' - 'Psychological Dilemma'. Photo: Tai Kwun In the entrance hall, pages of directors' scripts from select films are flipped to the most iconic scenes, recognisable to any Hong Kong film buff. In the reproduction of the Chinese restaurant from John Woo's Hard Boiled, the labels on the tea are even scribbled in with the feckless attitude of an overworked waiter in the 1980s. Another display showcases the detective's den from the set of Man on the Brink. Conspicuous strings on a memo board interlace to shed light on the clever mind behind its workings. A typewriter, piles of tapes, and stacks upon stacks of well-read documents rest on rusted metal desks typical of the time. An interview with a former undercover agent plays in the background, a man who has lived life on the brink himself. The detective den from the film 'Man on the Brink'. Photo: Tai Kwun Still, this is no match for the stupendous display that is two cars suspended in mid-air, crashing through the grand window of a cathedral-like structure. One is greeted by pandemonium: a flurry of bricks and glass fragments dot the air above, as if the collision could suddenly resume at any moment. The red vintage vehicle even has a handbag slumped in the front seat. The exhaustive displays of 'Undercover Underworld' will enlighten visitors about the golden age of Hong Kong's undercover films. The exhibition runs from August 1 to October 5. Regular tickets cost HK$25, with concession tickets priced at HK$15. Children aged 4 or below enjoy free admission. Tickets can be purchased through Klook, whereas limited tickets are available for on-site purchase at G/F, Block 01, Police Headquarters Block, Tai Kwun.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
5 new Hong Kong coffee shops to try in August, from Central to Yuen Long
Slow down a little and relax with these new coffee spots scattered across Hong Kong, perfect when you just want to unwind amid the hustle and bustle. 1. Detour Known for its in-house roastery, Detour Coffee recently opened another branch in Central. A classic flat white at Detour Coffee's new location in Central, Hong Kong. Photo: Instagram/ Its signature coffees boast a diverse range of flavour profiles with mainly fruity blends, from candied lemon and chocolate to lychee and bourbon. Advertisement Whether you're coming for an early morning latte, a workday pick-me-up or wine nights, the new spot just made it easier to come visit. 129 Queen's Road, Central 2. Twist On Coffee Club Twist on Coffee is the newest pet-friendly spot in Hong Kong. Photo: Instagram/cafehoppingwithmydog On a tranquil corner in To Kwa Wan, a new relaxed coffee shop has opened its doors. As well as Twist On Coffee Club's innovative coffee blends, there are some delicious food choices, including pistachio French toast, beetroot eggs benedict and prawn salad on toast. A major plus is its pet-friendly policy, welcoming furry friends to their indoor and outdoor seating. Advertisement 8 Maidstone Lane, To Kwa Wan 3. Venner
