However, the show turned out to be a huge failure, with some mainland visitors expressing their disappointment on social media. One Xiaohongshu user even said that he felt “cheated” by the quality of the fireworks display. Many complained that all they could see was a thick cloud of smoke. You can also blame the weather or the credibility of the organizers for holding the show against expectations. It was better than doing nothing, right? Alternatively, the government could see this as a learning opportunity. It may have been too ambitious to set the first day of the monthly fireworks show on the holiday week around May Day. As we have seen with the confusion surrounding the waste levy scheme, a pilot may have been appropriate. That way, authorities could have better managed the expectations of tourists planning to see the show. If people were expecting the same kind of show the city has put on in the past, the scaled-down fireworks display will be a disappointment. Those were probably images, as visitors may have only seen previous fireworks displays in the city in photos and videos. That’s what they thought to themselves as they waited along Victoria Harbour. If those involved had understood this, it would have been obvious that the scale of the exhibition needed to be emphasized. This brings us back to the question of whether it is wise to hold monthly fireworks displays. The question arose in February when tourism promotion measures were announced along with the budget. As well as concerns that money could be better spent elsewhere, there were also concerns about the attractiveness of the exhibits and the environmental impact.
Fireworks light up the sky at Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade on May 1st. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Would doing something special every month have the same effect? If I took my son to his favorite theme park every month, the novelty would certainly wear off. Fireworks have the power to amaze people, but to be “special” they require balance.
It’s not necessarily wrong to copy Disneyland’s approach of having regular fireworks, but don’t forget that Disneyland also has the Castle of Magical Dreams. It’s not just the backdrops and fireworks, it’s the whole package, an experience that theme parks have built over decades with frequent tweaks. The government needs to work hard to provide tourists visiting Hong Kong with this kind of experience, not just fireworks displays. Regarding the environmental impact, residents would be more tolerant if fireworks displays were held only on special occasions. Labor Day is not a celebration in the same way as New Year, Chinese New Year, or National Day.
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Hong Kong National Day fireworks show attracts crowds for first time in 5 years
Hong Kong National Day fireworks show attracts crowds for first time in 5 years
Exhibits like this need to be large and spectacular, but they only happen once in a while. Reducing Hong Kong to commonplace is not the way to make Hong Kong an attractive destination for tourists.
The government must go back to square one. Whether that means conducting extensive research, running focus groups, or taking criticism from the public seriously, we must do so before rolling out new measures. Otherwise, these ideas are doomed to become damp squibs.
Alice Wu is a political consultant and former associate director of UCLA’s Asia-Pacific Media Network.
