Symphony of Lights to replace handover fireworks

The fireworks display over Victoria Harbour for the 25th handover anniversary on July 1 will not be held due to Covid, authorities have announced.

Previously held every five years, the show will be replaced by a "special edition of A Symphony of Lights" on skyscrapers on both sides of the harbor.

Apart from the handover, fireworks shows are typically held during the Lunar New Year and on National Day on October 1. The last display was held on February 6, 2019 during the Lunar New Year holiday, while the National Day show that year was called off amid the anti-fugitive bill unrest.

The city's new year countdown celebration on December 31 last year - right when the fifth wave of the pandemic broke out - only featured drone and lighting shows.

It did have a small-scale fireworks display that shot out from the top of skyscrapers along Victoria Harbour instead of from ships.

The steering committee for the 25th handover celebration said the special edition of A Symphony of Lights will be organized by the Tourism Board.

The board will also host a "cocktail-hopping" program that month and the Wine and Dine Festival in October as part of the celebration events.

The committee also launched a dedicated website as well as social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to keep people posted on various celebration activities.

As of yesterday, the website showed that 20 events will be held on July 1.

Apart from plays, performances and flag-raising ceremonies, the Government Flying Service will host a "grand flypast" above the harbor while parades will be held in Yau Tsim Mong, Tai Po and on Hong Kong Island.

Two promotional videos were released. One of them presents the 25th anniversary theme song Heading Forward, which features 28 local and mainland singers, including Alan Tam Wing-lun, Jacky Cheung Hok-yau and Andy Lau Tak-wah.

The other video promotes the theme "A New Era - Stability, Prosperity, Opportunity."

On July 1, Hongkong Post will issue a set of commemorative stamps as part of the celebrations.

jane.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com