Hong Kong bus driver crowned ‘Bun King’ after winning Cheung Chau festival scramble as event returns following 3-year Covid break
- Newly crowned ‘Bun King’ Chung Yuk-chuen, a runner-up in 2014 and 2018, puts his victory down to luck and experience
- On women’s side, five-time winner Angel Wong takes title once again and also becomes first ‘Queen of Queens’
A Hong Kong bus driver raced to victory shortly after midnight on Friday in the comeback edition of the Cheung Chau bun scrambling competition following a three-year pandemic-related suspension, while a nine-time winner was disqualified.
Newly crowned “Bun King” Chung Yuk-chuen, a runner-up in 2014 and 2018, scaled up a 15-metre (49-foot) steel tower, the highlight of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, and managed to net 954 points.
This year’s top contender beat out 2016 champion Kidman Yip Kin-man, who placed second, with 804 points, while office clerk Wong Chi-kit came third with 628 points.
“It was all down to luck and experience. I did not expect this at all,” said 47-year-old Chung, who added that it was difficult to adjust to a new anti-fall buckle this year and it took a toll on his energy, especially on the way down.
After the night’s contestants finished bagging plastic buns, more than 100 people lined up to eat the edible ones from the traditional bamboo towers, with the tasty treats getting handed out from 9am Saturday.