Hong Kong prepares Spectacular New Year's Eve Countdown

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has unveiled details of a major New Year’s Eve countdown event to be held on 31 December 2007. Co-sponsored by Henderson Land Development Co Ltd and Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd, the spectacular “A Symphony of Lights – New Year Countdown” is set to become another signature event that draws international attention.

The major countdown event will commence 20 minutes before midnight on 31 December 2007. Staging from the rooftop and also on the façade of Hong Kong’s iconic ifc2, the first time ever for Hong Kong, the countdown will begin with the multi-media show A Symphony of Lights on both sides of Victoria Harbour, which will be enhanced with pyrotechnic displays. And just 20 seconds before the stroke of midnight, special pyrotechnic effects will be added to light up the sides of ifc2 to welcome the new year. Other designated buildings will join the pyrotechnic display on their rooftops for two minutes after the clock strikes midnight.

The Hon James Tien, Chairman of the HKTB, said the event would once again highlight to the world Hong Kong’s dazzling skyline by night. “Experiences have shown us that cosmopolitan cities such as New York, London, Paris and Sydney usually have large-scale countdown activities to welcome the new year, and often enough, events of such usually catch great international media attention. I am sure the countdown extravaganza will put our city under spotlight and enhance our image as a fascinating cosmopolitan city,” Mr Tien said.

International media such as Reuters and Earth TV have already agreed to provide complete live coverage of the event. The HKTB is also liaising with a number of electronic media partners in Mainland China and other parts of the world to arrange live or delayed broadcast of the programme.

Visitors and local residents can enjoy the countdown at various locations. The best vantage points include the Wan Chai Promenade and the Expo Promenade around the Golden Bauhinia Square on Hong Kong Island, the waterfront area from the Avenue of Stars to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, as well as the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade on Kowloon side. The Television Broadcasts Limited will also arrange live broadcast of the event.

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