Hong Kong families cheered for Japan as it beat Tunisia 4-0 during a Sunday lunchtime broadcast of the Fifa World Cup, making for a memorable Father’s Day that combined the family tradition of yum cha with live football.
The occasion highlighted the catering sector’s creative efforts to boost business, as a World Cup match coincided with a major family celebration, filling a local Cantonese teahouse to capacity.
At Lin Heung Lau in Sheung Wan, thunderous applause and roars erupted when the Japanese team scored. Some patrons punched the air in celebration, while others crowded around dim sum carts, eyes fixed on a wall-sized television at the centre of the dining room.
Advertisement
Wearing a navy Japan football team jersey, Ricky Chan got a table shortly before kick-off with his wife Carman and their 15-year-old son, Carson. While the older Chan likes to watch football, the son plays the sport at school.
“We rarely watch football matches together as they were usually at night, but [this match] aligned perfectly with yum cha hours … there is also better atmosphere here,” Ricky Chan said.
Advertisement
“It was worth a try as [the World Cup] only comes around once every four years,” he added.