Lunar New Year Fireworks Called Off Again

Hong Kong is expected to welcome in the Year of the Ox next month with muted celebrations, with the government cancelling more of the planned festivities.

The latest events to get the chop are the fireworks display over Victoria Harbour, which usually takes place on the second day of the Lunar New Year, and the lantern carnivals traditionally held across the city.

The government has cited the pandemic for the cancellations. Last year, the Lunar New Year fireworks were called off due to the social unrest at the time.

Officials earlier announced the cancellation of next month's Lunar New Year fairs, the night parade, and the Well-Wishing Festival at Lam Tsuen.

Questions remain as to whether other celebratory events, such as the offerings at the Wong Tai Sin Temple and Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, will go ahead.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam earlier urged Hong Kong people to prepare for a “relatively quiet'' Lunar New Year, saying it won't be the right time to relax social distancing measures.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Board said on Friday that Hong Kong saw a 93 percent plunge in incoming visitors last year, compared to 2019.

It said almost all of the 3.5 million tourists that did make it to the territory came in the first month of the year, with almost zero arrivals from March onwards because of pandemic travel restrictions.

Chairman Pang Yiu-kai said the board had been focused on maintaining international exposure for Hong Kong last year, and it is prepared for the eventual resumption of travel.