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An artist’s impression of the 2018 New Year fireworks. Image: Handout

Expect bigger, more complex fireworks show during Hong Kong New Year’s countdown at Victoria Harbour

Tourism Board says display area will be widened by more than a third, with new pyrotechnics from Europe and soundtrack by local composer

Tourism
Fireworks fans take note – the Tourism Board has promised a bigger and more complex show at the coming New Year’s countdown at Victoria Harbour.

The musical fireworks, which will have their display area widened by 35 per cent to 1.1km along the harbourfront, will be part of the New Year celebrations held on December 31 and New Year’s Day, the board said on Monday.

The 10-minute show, starting at midnight, will feature for the first time pyrotechnics from an award-winning European fireworks maker. The “Magic Stardust” firework was inspired by the idea of dancing fairies scattering magical stardust over the harbour, signifying New Year’s blessings to the city.

The fireworks will be launched in synchrony with a soundtrack composed and produced by veteran local music director Chiu Tsang-hei. The pyrotechnics will be fired from barges at the harbour and from the rooftops of buildings on Hong Kong Island.

An artist’s impression of 2018 New Year fireworks, which will be launched to a soundtrack composed by local music director Chiu Tsang-hei. Image: Handout

“The musical fireworks will be expanded in scale, exhibiting more gradation and complexity,” said Peter Lam Kin-ngok, the board’s chairman.

“Shooting stars” in four colours will also be launched every 15 minutes from 11pm onwards from the rooftops of five buildings in Wan Chai and Admiralty. Members of the public can “make a wish” on the stars, with the various colours symbolising love, health, happiness and wealth.

Meanwhile, Australian performing arts group Strange Fruit will join the city’s celebrations for the first time and begin their performance from 10pm at the Tsim Sha Tsui Pier.

End of an era for traditional New Year countdown

The group will present a global debut of their performance “Deco-Sphere”. Performers will sway and dance on gigantic orbs on five-metre poles.

The board suggested that the best vantage points for fireworks viewing on the Kowloon side would be Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the open piazza outside the Cultural Centre. The best spots on the Hong Kong Island side would be at Central Harbourfront, Central Piers No 9 and 10, as well as Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.

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