New Year spectacular to involve 18 buildings
The 88-storey Two IFC, Hong Kong's tallest skyscraper, and 17 other buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour will feature in a synchronised programme of fireworks, lasers and music for the countdown to the New Year.
The Tourism Board has unveiled details of A Symphony of Lights-New Year Countdown, the 22-minute show that will rival the Lunar New Year and National Day harbour fireworks displays, which have entertained thousands of residents and visitors for years.
Mason Hung Chung-hing, senior manager of product development, said there had been similar firework shows for New Year countdown shows at the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Taipei 101 tower.
'In Hong Kong, we are trying not a simple display, but a musical, multimedia, synchronised pyrotechnic show. It is going to be a signature event for Hong Kong,' he said.
Wilson Mao Wai-shing, chief executive officer of Pyro Magic Productions, which is putting the spectacle together, said it would be the first time such an ambitious event had been tried with 18 buildings, as the Paris and Taipei events used only one structure.
'The integration of Two IFC and the 17 rooftops is the first time it will have been done,' said Mr Mao, whose company stages the Symphony of Lights in Victoria Harbour.
'We have a lot more firing positions,' he said. Forty-four brackets are being mounted - 18 on each side of Two IFC plus eight brackets to create the year 2008 display.
Twelve specially trained technicians on gondolas take turns, two at a time, to mount brackets and fireworks from the 70th floor upwards, one storey at a time.
The fireworks include 'mines, which can shoot 25 metres, and comets of various colours that can shoot 50 metres', Mr Mao said.
A special feature will involve '2008' being displayed on the building in fireworks a second after the stroke of midnight, and the finale 11/2 minutes later.
Every three seconds, the pattern of lights and fireworks will change.
'The highlight on the Two IFC rooftop will trigger the detonation of fireworks on the 17 buildings on both sides of the harbour,' Mr Hung said.
He said the weather would be critical this week during the installation of the brackets and fireworks.
'Once everything is set, we will be more comfortable,' he said. 'On the day, the weather will not be that significant.'
Mr Mao said the fireworks would be 'very controlled explosives'.
The complex display will feature two- and three-dimensional effects and displays going in different directions. 'They can go clockwise, counter-clockwise, up and down or zigzag,' Mr Mao said.
Gilly Wong Fung-han, the Tourism Board's general manager for destination marketing, said people could choose which countdown event to view.
'The most important thing is for the whole town to be celebrating the New Year. We are sure different organisations will have their own events and the addition of this one will add to the whole New Year ambience and celebration.'
