PARTY LIKE IT'S 2000
It clearly does not matter that the next millennium does not start until January 1, 2001, for the party begins in less than 30 days. Considering that 'millennium' has been the most uttered word all year, Hong Kong nightlife has managed to successfully avoid the Y2K hype - until now.
As the time to do justice to Prince's anthemic hit, 1999, draws near, promoters and bar managers are finally in a flurry to announce their plans. Which works out well for revellers who have not been planning for this night since last year.
Bars and clubs across town, for the most part, are doing the expected: hiking up cover charges for standard New Year's Eve fare - champagne and party favours - but club promoters have come out in full force. Ranging from the intimate CE Top to the massive Hitec, clubbers have a range of fairly impressive events to choose from.
Unity 2000 - Dawn Of The Dragon is the largest and perhaps the most over-hyped of the lot. A follow-up to the massive Unity handover party in 1997, which attracted about 12,500 revellers, Unity 2000 currently boasts an impressive line-up. On the bill are British DJ heavyweights Paul Oakenfold - who spun at the first Unity event - and Carl Cox, regarded as two of the world's best DJs, as well as Renaissance resident Dave Seaman.
However, they will not actually be in Hong Kong: Oakenfold and Seaman from England and Cox from Sydney will be beamed to hi-tech ravers using real-time ISDN and satellite links.
Present at the affair will be the popular Mrs Wood, ranked best female DJ by DJ Magazine and frequent visitor to Hong Kong, where she tends to attract enthusiastic crowds. Adding some musical diversity is another British DJ, Tayo, who incorporates hip-hop, funk, techno and drum and bass into his sound. Tayo is resident at new London club, Home. Perhaps the strangest inclusion for the night is girl group Sister Sledge. The trio, one of the leaders of soul and R & B in the 80s and best known for the hit We Are Family, will be on hand for a 'mini-concert' and to lead the countdown to midnight.