Better Hong Kong Foundation Announces Hong Kong 97 Spectacular The Celebration Of A New Era

The Better Hong Kong Foundation today announced details of the Hong Kong 97 Spectacular, a light and sound show which includes an illuminated flotilla , music, water fountains, special effects, lights, lasers and fireworks display on Victoria Harbour to mark Hong Kong’s first day of Chinese sovereignty and celebrate a new era on the evening of July 1, 1997.

The Chairman of The Better Hong Kong Foundation Advisory Council, Henry Cheng said the Foundation believed that July 1 was the perfect time for the Hong Kong community to make a bold statement to the world, embodying confidence in the future of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of China, as well as to foster a spirit of togetherness and enable Hong Kong to forge further ahead in its new role.

The show is a truly international event, offering the community an unforgettable spectacle which the people of Hong Kong can participate in to celebrate as well as to show their confidence in the future. The cost is being met by the commercial sector in Hong Kong who have provided total funding of more than US$12 million.

The Spectacular fuses the best of Hong Kong, Chinese and overseas talent and reflects the true face of Hong Kong as an international cosmopolitan city.

The concept of the Spectacular was initiated and developed by Hong Kong people. Thirty-four corporate patrons have sponsored the event. The Better Hong Kong Foundation has commissioned CSS International as project manager for the event. Don Mischer Productions, who mounted the opening and closing ceremonies at last year’s Olympics Games, will produce and mount the Show. Shipyards in Mainland China are responsible for manufacturing the flotilla barges.

Mr Cheng also noted that, while a team of world class professionals was working together on the project, “they had shown great sensitivity and respect for Chinese traditional cultural values and had consulted widely with experts in China and Hong Kong.”

Co-organizers of the event are the Association for the Celebration of Reunification of Hong Kong with China and the Association of Hong Kong Guangdong Society Organizations for the Celebration of Return of Hong Kong to China.

Dr Raymond Wu, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Association for the Celebration of Reunification of Hong Kong with China, said his association endorsed the event, as it has proven to be such a fine example of solidarity and unity. It has been the key to Hong Kong’s success in the past and will continue in the future.

“The Association is particularly pleased to provide the music created by internationally renowned composer Mr Tan Dun, who was commissioned by the Association to compose the music for the celebration of the reunification of Hong Kong with China. An exciting part of the music entitled “Symphony 1997 (Heaven • Earth • Mankind) will be integrated into the show. The music will not only make it more lively but also will create an underlying spirit to the Show.”

Mr Yu Kwok Chun, Convenor of the Executive Committee of the Association of Hong Kong Guangdong Society Organizations for the Celebration of Return of Hong Kong to China, said his association was pleased to be a co-organizer of this momentous event. “We are happy to see that from a simple idea of putting on a fireworks displays, the event has grown into such a bold and innovative spectacle.

“The event serves as a dramatic example of what can be accomplished if we all work together and are united in our resolve to achieve common goals,” he said.

The Chief Executive of The Better Hong Kong Foundation as well as Concept Initiator and Executive Director of the Hong Kong 97 Spectacular, Leonie Ki, said the Show is a once-in-a-lifetime event, offering the community an unforgettable spectacle and a lasting image.

The Show would involve a central stage moored in the middle of the harbour around and on which many of the visual aspects of the show will be focused. There will be an illuminated flotilla consisting of 31 decorated barges. These are currently being prepared and constructed in Jiangmen and Foshan in China . There will be an additional eight barges just dedicated to fireworks displays.

“There will be lights and lasers on both sides of the harbour including computerized tracker lights, (search lights), never used before outdoors in Hong Kong for a show. In short nothing like this has ever before been staged in Hong Kong. We believe that this unparalleled historic occasion should be commemorated with a truly memorable display.”

One of the highlights of the event will be”Song of Peace”, from “Symphony 1997 (Heaven ?Earth ?Mankind), a composition commissioned by The Association for the Celebration of Reunification of Hong Kong with China. The song is composed by international renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun and will be performed by internationally famous American Chinese cellist Yo Yo Ma.

“This song in combination with the visual effects of the show will create an empathy and an emotional mood, symbolizing”peace and unity”, a vision for the new millennium,” said Ms Ki.

The show will also encourage public participation, creating a feeling of warmth and togetherness. People therefore attending the event should bring a radio so as to follow and join in with the music, which have been synchronized to components of the show.

“Popular local tunes will be included in the event, and during one of the segments we hope to claim the world’s largest karaoke as people sing along to the tunes,” Ms Ki added.

Ms Ki stressed that safety was an important consideration in staging an event as complex and technically unique as The Hong Kong 97 Spectacular, and the organizer has spent several months planning and consulting with relevant authorities for the event.

Full cooperation has also been secured from the HK SAR Chief Executive (Designate)’s office and the authorities in China.

Detailed safety announcements will be issued by the police and the Foundation in the weeks leading up to the event, covering general crowd control, transport, access and viewing arrangements.

“In fact, planning for this unique event has been underway since last year,” said Ms Ki, “We have the means and the determination to achieve this with the speed, efficiency, panache and professionalism which is the hallmark of the Hong Kong way of doing things.”

Following the event on the 2nd July, the flotilla will be displayed for public viewing at different waterfront locations throughout Hong Kong. It will also be exhibited in parts of China.