Deflated hopes: HK's first hot air balloon festival hits snag with canceled balloon rides

Excitement turned to disappointment for many as the city's first International Hot Air Balloon Fest announced the cancellation of the balloon ride experience on the opening day.

Scheduled to take place from Thursday (Sep 4) to Sunday (Sep 7), the festival initially offered guests the chance to ride in specially designed hot air balloons anchored to the ground, ascending to heights of 10 to 20 meters for stunning views of Victoria Harbour.

However, the event organizer, Grand Events Asia, announced earlier on Thursday that the government has approved flying captive balloons within the venue with no persons on board for display purposes only.

Consequently, the on-site tickets for the "Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides Experience" will not be available for public sale on the day.

The organizer emphasized they are actively communicating with authorities and will provide updates as new information arises.

Notably, signs mentioning the tethered balloon experience at the venue were seen covered with black tape.

However, reports indicated that the audience had been waiting for the hot air balloons to be set up since the entrance time of 4.30pm.

The balloon reportedly began to rise around 6pm, with only a motorcycle performance being offered, leading to a tense atmosphere among the audience on site.

Many attendees expressed their disappointment upon learning of the cancellation after arriving at the festival. One guest, who planned to spend hundreds of dollars on the balloon riding experience, described the situation as a scam.

Another visitor Yip, who spent over HK$800 for the admission tickets, stated the organizer should take responsibility for the cancellation and the poor arrangement.

A visitor surnamed To also expressed dissatisfaction with the event, stating that the facilities were not ready upon entry and that audiences were not allowed into the air-conditioned rooms. They revealed plans to stay until the evening concert, noting that the lack of exit wristbands was inconvenient.

Joey Chan Pui-kwan, chief operating officer of Grand Events Asia, expressed regret for the disappointment caused.

She explained that safety concerns during balloon ascents led to the decision not to sell tickets in advance and assured that negotiations with the government would continue to allow public participation.

Stressing the involvement of certified pilots for the balloon operations, Chan hopes to demonstrate the event's safety in the coming days.

As noted on the event's website, the tethered balloon experience remains subject to government approval, prevailing weather conditions, and the judgment of the flight crew.

Reports indicated that the event has seen an investment of approximately HK$30 million, with aspirations to establish it as a regular event in the city.