Extended Pyrotechnic Display for Hong Kong’s New Year Countdown Celebrations

Hong Kong’s New Year Countdown Celebrations will be upgraded this year with an extended pyrotechnic display.

Mr Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said, “This year, we have enhanced the pyrotechnic display to ensure greater enjoyment for the viewers. We also hope that local residents and visitors will join the celebration in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and enjoy the strong festive atmosphere there.”

Music and dance performances will kick start the event at 11:15pm on the viewing deck of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The HKTB will arrange projection of the performances and the subsequent pyrotechnic show onto the facade of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre for spectators’ enjoyment. To further heighten the party  atmosphere, spectators will be given inflatable cheering sticks specially designed for this event. In addition, local residents are encouraged to participate in the video and photograph competition organised by the HKTB to capture the spectacular pyrotechnic display of the countdown event. Winning entries may be featured in HKTB’s overseas promotion after the event.

The actual countdown will commence one minute before midnight on 31 December 2008, with gigantic numerical countdown display in LED lights, together with pyrotechnic effects, to be shown on the facade of Two ifc facing the harbour. When the countdown reaches “0”, a five-minute choreographed musical pyrotechnic show will continue on the two sides of Two ifc and the rooftop of nine other designated buildings on Hong Kong Island. Renowned composer Mr Peter Kam will compose a theme song especially for the event. The song will be performed by local singers to complement the pyrotechnic display.

To generate maximum international exposure for Hong Kong, the HKTB will provide both live and delayed feed of the entire countdown event to major television channels worldwide via satellite, while simulcast will be available on the HKTB’s website. The Television Broadcasts Limited will also produce a special documentary programme for the event, to be broadcast in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Visitors and local residents can enjoy the countdown at various locations. The best vantage points include the waterfront area from the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, the Avenue of Stars to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and on Kowloon side, as well as the Expo Promenade around the Golden Bauhinia Square and around the Central piers on Hong Kong Island.

 “Two ifc is a landmark in the heart of Hong Kong. Together with our world-famous Victoria Harbour as the backdrop, we are confident that the event will once again manifest to the world Hong Kong’s cosmopolitan appeal,” Mr Lau added.

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