Experts prepare an explosion of colour

It sounds like a mission impossible. Two tonnes of explosives, one of the territory's biggest ever firework shows ready to go - and not a single match.

But for the Lunar New Year Fireworks spectacular, welcoming the Year of the Ox with the tune Mission: Impossible , there is much more to be done than 'light the blue touch paper and stand well back'.

An island of five barges make up a mini-Cape Canaveral, loaded with computer-wired mega fireworks and hi-tech laser equipment promises inter-galactic battles over Victoria Harbour on Saturday.

Pyrotechnicians from eight countries boarded the barges yesterday to check equipment and wire individual fireworks ready for the big bang.

Each explosive is linked by cable to a control room where fireworks experts press a key for lift-off.

Jim Souza - a fourth-generation pyrotechnician from California - has done shows in 26 countries, from Somalia to the Olympic Games in Atlanta, but Hong Kong is his favourite destination.

He said: 'It's a natural amphitheatre with Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Anywhere with a backdrop of tall buildings and lights is excellent.' Scott Cunningham, director of American company Laser Media, will ensure the sequence of programmed images created for the 23-minute show run smoothly.

Four strategically placed laser machines will shoot beams among the fireworks, helping create effects like gold coins falling to the water, colourful waterfalls, eight giant roman candles and red spaceships invading Hong Kong.

The $8 million show begins at 8 pm.