New Year fireworks show gets Olympic treatment

Adelyn Lau

Victoria Harbour will be transformed into a grand stage for the largest New Year countdown fireworks show ever, boasting fireworks choreography designed by the pyrotechnics director of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Tourism Board said.

The fireworks spectacular on New Year's Eve on Sunday will be the largest and longest in duration, lasting 12 minutes, and will cover a distance of 1,300 meters from Central to North Point.

Five barges with 16 floats will be deployed in two layers to launch the fireworks from different angles and heights to create a three-dimensional effect.

The performance consists of five sections: a prelude, three scenes and the finale, inspired by the changing of seasons.

Hongkongers will be able to watch the show from the newly opened seaside facilities, including the waterfront promenade in West Kowloon Cultural District, HarbourChill at Wan Chai and East Coast Park Precinct in North Point, with sound systems for immersive experience.

Liu Lin, the project's chief, who directed the 2008 Beijing Olympics fireworks operation, said: "The countdown fireworks performance demonstrates the optimism and diligence of the people of Hong Kong, who inspire boundless vitality and innovation, and have given birth to one legend after another."

Renowned musician Chiu Tsang-hei arranged the sonata accompanying the fireworks, which integrates various elements of electronic, classical and Chinese instruments.

Additionally, internationally acclaimed violinist Yao Jue will perform a classical piece, demonstrating Hong Kong's East-meets-West cultural fusion.

Starting from 11pm on Saturday, rooftop pyrotechnics will also be set off every 15 minutes at Harbour Centre, Harcourt House and Cheung Kong Center.

Board executive director Dane Cheng Ting-yat said: "Together with an East-meets-West musical, the performance will surely attract large crowds ... this dazzling audio-visual extravaganza in Victoria Harbour on New Year's Eve will boost the lively, vibrant night-time ambience across the city."

Live broadcasts will be aired on various platforms, including Discoverhongkong's Facebook and YouTube channels and ViuTV 99. Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 2 will also broadcast the show's soundtrack.

Traffic control measures and road closures will be implemented in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai. Sailing will be suspended in central Victoria Harbour and at Kowloon Public Pier.