BVI Hong Kong Office Christmas Dinner
The British Virgin Islands Hong Kong Office held its annual Christmas dinner on December 20 for students and staff from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and China, bringing a taste of home to those unable to travel to the territory for the holidays. The event included Virgin Islands music, traditional drinks and a festive lights tour, and organisers say the BVI Asia Abroad Scholarship Programme is set to grow in the coming year.
The British Virgin Islands Hong Kong Office hosted its annual BVI Christmas Dinner on Saturday, December 20, welcoming students and staff studying and working across Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and mainland China. Held in Central Hong Kong, the afternoon gathering brought together eight students and five staff members for fellowship, Virgin Islands music, games, and a Christmas meal accompanied by Sorrel, Ginger Beer and Guavaberry.
The dinner, sponsored by the Office of the Premier, is designed to recreate a sense of home for BVI nationals who remain overseas during the year-end holidays. "We host an annual holiday gathering to give our students and staff a touch of home while away from home during the end of year holidays.
Most of our students will not travel back to their families in BVI for the holidays, so it is important that we celebrate Christmas here as a Virgin Islands family and that no one is alone," said Dr. Ricardo Wheatley, Director of the BVI Hong Kong Office. The event was organised by office staff members Ronn Grant and Shaquille Malone.
After the meal, Grant and Malone led attendees on a festive walking tour of Hong Kong’s city centre to view the Christmas lights. Organisers noted that while eight students attended the dinner, the BVI Asia Abroad Scholarship Programme currently supports nine students studying in the region. "It is my hope that at next year’s holiday gathering we will host 20 students for Christmas dinner as more students join the programme," said Ronn Grant, Political Economy Officer.
The BVI Asia Abroad Scholarship Programme aims to expand opportunities for young Virgin Islanders to study in Asia and to build connections in education and trade. Students interested in applying for the 2026–2027 academic year are encouraged to contact the BVI Hong Kong Office via email at studyinasia@bvihongkongoffice.com.hk.
The annual dinner highlights efforts by the Government of the Virgin Islands to support nationals abroad and maintain community ties during major holidays. For international media enquiries related to government events, organisers provided BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com as a contact point.
For residents in the BVI, the gathering serves as a reminder of government programmes that extend support to students overseas and of ongoing plans to grow the territory’s scholarship footprint in Asia.
Primary source: BVI Government