Manneken-Pis, an iconic statue in the Belgian capital of Brussels, donned a Hong Kong costume last Friday to mark the Handover anniversary.
The celebratory attire was donated to the City of Brussels by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels in 2012, according to the government.
“The design encapsulates the East-meets-West aspects of Hong Kong in a way that is instantly recognisable,” a government press release said.
“A black traditional Chinese jacket bearing the HKSAR’s flying dragon logo and its coloured ribbons is teamed with a pair of trendy black jeans and red shoes with white laces. A tablet computer, a symbol of technology-driven modern city life, completes the costume. ”
Manneken-Pis wore the Hong Kong costume for a day. The last time Manneken-Pis wore it was in October 2015, during the visit of the then-secretary for commerce and economic development to Brussels.
Shirley Lam, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, said that Hong Kong cherished its close relationship with the people of Brussels and Belgium.
“The Hong Kong costume is a symbol of the enduring friendship between our two cities,” Lam said.
The fountain statue briefly sprayed the crowd with water, before producing beer which was served to guests, according to a festive custom.
Manneken-Pis, a bronze fountain sculpture, depicts a naked little boy urinating into a fountain’s basin. Currently, 130 different costumes each year are planned to be featured on fixed dates and he regularly receives new suits. A wardrobe of 900 costumes is kept at a dedicated building in the Museum of the City of Brussels.
