Lavish Christmas decorations making 2021 comeback in Hong Kong after protests, coronavirus forced low-key displays in recent years

Crowds expected for big reveal of Hong Kong’s flagship Christmas decorations at Harbour City for first time since 2018

Anti-government protests and then fourth wave of coronavirus have put dampeners on the festive tradition for extravagant displays over last two years

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This year’s Christmas offering at the Heritage 1881 shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: May Tse

Published: 11:00am, 12 Nov 2021Updated: 10:40pm, 12 Nov 2021

Extravagant Christmas decorations are making a major comeback in Hong Kong after two straight years of scaled-back displays because of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and the 2019 anti-government protests.

For the first time since 2018, the public can on November 18 attend the grand reveal of festive displays at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Harbour City shopping centre, with access limited in the intervening years to only special guests and the media.

The annual Christmas extravaganza at Harbour City’s main entrance near the ferry pier – usually seen as the benchmark for festive decorations – has been one of Hong Kong’s must-see attractions for more than half a century, luring in thousands of tourists each year.

But with the decline in visitor numbers during the social unrest of two years ago accelerating after the Covid-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, the shopping centre has been eerily quiet over successive Christmas seasons.

A spokeswoman for Harbour City told the Post that its budget for the display was “similar to previous years”.

“With many people unable to travel due to Covid-19 restrictions, we hope that the people of Hong Kong can enjoy and make memories with this year’s festive backdrop,” she said.

Visitors can attend the ceremony on a first-come-first-served basis by registering on travel platform Klook with a donation of HK$250. Proceeds go towards the Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation.

While there is no maximum capacity for the outdoor display venue, groups are limited to four people and the installation will mainly serve as an area for taking photos due to Covid-19 restrictions.