HONG KONG PERFORMERS REVIVE MAGICAL PAST

Illusionists transform street scenes into enchanting shows

John Chung Lai-ho wielded a pair of kitchen tongs in the air, and suddenly a fish ball appeared to materialize out of nowhere. He brandished the tongs once again, and the fish ball seemed to vanish into thin air.

The art of making objects appear and disappear is a classic magic trick, but the 24-year-old Hong Kong magician chose a curry fish ball — a beloved street food in his hometown — as the object for his sleight of hand.

It was just one of the Hong Kong cultural elements that Chung integrated into his performance at the inaugural Greater Bay Area Golden Bauhinia Magic Championship, held in Hong Kong in January.