HONG KONG – The much-anticipated New Year Countdown Celebration at Hong Kong has become one of the biggest and most remarkable countdowns across Asia. Organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations 2018 will be launched at the Victoria Harbour on New Year’s Eve (31 December). The HKTB will provide satellite live feed of the Musical Fireworks for media organizations worldwide to broadcast the event live and celebrate the New Year with audience around the globe. This year’s Musical Fireworks event will be grander and even more impressive with new effects displayed from award-winning fireworks.
Two key highlights of this year’s Countdown Celebrations include a musical fireworks display over the Victoria Harbour and performances that take place at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier. Presented in an unprecedented scale, the 10-minute pyrotechnic extravaganza will feature a rainbow of pyrotechnics and fireworks cascading from various heights around the Victoria Harbour.
Fireworks of an award-winning European fireworks maker will be used for the first time to create a breathtaking visual effect, in which Hong Kong’s skyline will be illuminated by “Magical Star Dusts” inspired by dancing fairies scattering magical stardust over the iconic Victoria Harbour, signifying New Year’s blessings to the city.
On New Year’s Eve, a spectacular performance form Australian group “Strange Fruit” will be presented by the Hong Kong Tourism Board from 10:00pm at the Tsim Sha Tsui Pier. Performers will sway and dance with elegance on gigantic orbs of a 2-metre diameter on 5-metre poles, delivering an exotic feat incorporating theatrical and circus entertainments.
The Australian performing arts group “Strange Fruit” will stage their debut performance “Deco-Sphere” at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier. The group performed in the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia in 2014.
The audience will also get a chance to “make a wish” upon the pyrotechnic “shooting stars” presented in four different colours, which symbolize love, health, happiness and wealth respectively. The sparkling stars will be launched every 15 minutes from 11:00pm onwards from the rooftops of five participating buildings on Hong Kong Island: CITIC Tower, Harbour Centre, Harcourt House, Queensway Government Offices and Revenue Tower.
The Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations can be viewed from a number of spots across Hong Kong and Kowloon. The best vantage points in Tsim Sha Tsui are the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Open Piazza. The best vantage points on Hong Kong side are the Central Harbourfront, Central Piers 9 and 10, and Bauhinia Square in Wanchai.
In main photo, the 10-minute musical fireworks display will kick off when the clock strikes midnight. The numerals “2018” will be displayed on the façade of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre when fireworks are launched.
