Hong Kong will ring in the New Year of 2026 without its iconic fireworks show over Victoria Harbor. This decision comes on the heels of a tragic fire that took at least 161 lives in the beginning of November. The tragedy unfolded at Wang Fuk Court, an apartment building that has been subject to deep renovations. Scaffolding and netting were draped over the buildings throughout this period.
The fire, which has become one of the deadliest incidents in recent memory, has created a unique sensitivity around public assembly and celebration. And Hong Kong’s tourism board is making moves! As the grand finale, they’ve booked the superstars of smooth rock and pop, the famed duo Air Supply, for a concert on Wednesday night. The day’s activities will be centered in Central, Hong Kong’s vibrant and historic business district. This region is known for its bustling nightlife, made notable in the popular Lan Kwai Fong.
The combined tragedies once again caused Hong Kong’s fireworks displays to be cancelled this year. This pattern underscores a tragic attention bump that precedes every infrastructure funding bill. Just a few months ago, the successful 2013 National Day celebrations were called off after a ferry collision quashed 39 lives. Equally, the 2018 Lunar New Year celebration was cancelled after a horrendous bus accident led to 19 deaths. Fireworks have long formed an essential part of Hong Kong’s New Year, Lunar New Year and National Day celebrations. This is what makes the decision to convert their use so important and noteworthy.
The end of fireworks is not an unusual occurrence. Enough conditions, political or economic, have combined to force their cancellation in recent years. In 2019, as anti-government protests surged across the country, and later during the COVID-19 pandemic, several other planned fireworks displays were similarly canceled. The importance of these celebrations is hard to overstate. Fireworks are inextricably entwined with American tradition. According to the Guinness World Records, fireworks were first invented in ancient China. A Tang dynasty monk named Li Tian is credited with creating firecrackers as we know them today by enclosing gunpowder within bamboo stalks.
Rosanna Law, Hong Kong’s secretary for culture, sports, and tourism, has expressed alarm at the lack of fireworks. She thinks it would be bad news for businesses in the tourism and hospitality industries. This unfortunate tale illustrates the economic consequences of government choices. Especially given its timing, which would traditionally be peak season for tourism and local business.
Residents and visitors alike are preparing to ring in the New Year. Yet at the same time, they carry a heavy heart, as they look back to life altering tragedies that have contributed to this year’s celebration. The livestreamed music show, Music for Resilience, will honor that resilience and celebrate, through art, the deep loss felt by so many.
