Our celebrations need not always go off with a bang
Debate is raging over National Day this year, but are all those fireworks really necessary?
It is supposed to be a day of celebration.
But last year, National Day turned to tragedy in Hong Kong when two ferries collided, claiming the lives of 39 people - including eight children.
On the night of October 1, 2012, when spectacular fireworks were to light up the night sky above Victoria Harbour, the passenger ferries crashed off Lamma Island in the worst maritime accident in more than four decades.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying later announced a three-day public mourning period.
Time passes, but the sorrow and pain of losing loved ones cannot be forgotten.
That explains why a controversy arose when the Home Affairs Bureau last week started looking for sponsorship for this year's National Day fireworks show.