Hong Kong will cancel its New Year’s Eve fireworks display at Victoria Harbour following the deadly inferno in Tai Po last month.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board on Wednesday said that its New Year countdown would instead be held at the Chater Road pedestrian zone in Central.
“Through this event, the [board] hopes to convey positive energy, care and blessings of peace to both locals and visitors, and to welcome a hopeful new year together,” it said in a statement.
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It did not give a reason for cancelling the fireworks display.
The Tai Po fire, which broke out at Wang Fuk Court residential complex on November 26 and raged for 43 hours, claimed at least 160 lives. Six people remained missing as of last Wednesday, and nearly 5,000 residents were displaced.
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Also on Wednesday, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on arrangements for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the New Year’s Eve and New Year holidays.