<div id="readability-page-1">Tens of thousands of spectators are lining both sides of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour ahead of the Lunar New Year fireworks display, with some gathering hours in advance to secure prime viewing spots. The 23-minute event to usher in the Year of the Horse, sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, involves 31,888 pyrotechnic shells and cost HK$19 million (US$2.4 million). But some visitors from mainland China said they planned to leave Hong Kong after the display ended on Wednesday evening, despite government efforts to boost spending.   Addressing the crowds, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the display would demonstrate the spirit of “thousands of horses galloping forward”. “Tonight, as that spirit of galloping forward fills the sky, we see why Hong Kong is where the East meets the West, where Asian traditions and modern celebrations light up the sky together,” he said. “In the new year, let’s march forward bravely and confidently together, running at a higher speed and making new achievements.” Lee also vowed to carry out reforms with full speed and proactively align the city’s development with the country’s 15th five-year plan. He said he believed the year-long activities organised by the Jockey Club would attract more visitors to the city, further boosting the tourism sector. According to the Observatory, the weather will become cloudier in the evening, but the cloud base will be relatively high, so viewing the fireworks should not be affected. In Tsim Sha Tsui, thousands of people sat along the waterfront well ahead of the 8pm display. Shenzhen tourist Tommy Li, 48, and his family were among them. “We have come here for three consecutive years to watch the fireworks,” he said, adding that he had come prepared with foldable stools. Li said he and his family decided to visit Hong Kong as it was convenient and close enough that they did not have to stay overnight. Local civil servant Simon Lee, 28, said he had never seen the Lunar New Year display in person. “As a Hong Kong resident, it is not reasonable for me to not have seen it, especially with so many tourists coming to Hong Kong to view it, so I have to see it at least once,” he said. Lee added that because the Jockey Club was sponsoring it, he wanted to see if it would be special. He said he was staying in Hong Kong to support the local economy and avoid the peak travel crowds overseas and on the mainland.  Similar scenes were playing out on the other side of the harbour. Shelly Tai, 26, arrived in Hong Kong with her boyfriend from Shenzhen at around 4pm and headed straight for the waterfront. Tai, who works in a Shenzhen jewellery market, said she normally visited Hong Kong about twice a month but was especially looking forward to the fireworks. “We’re so excited. I wanted to come here tonight because Victoria Harbour is so beautiful,” she said, adding that they would return to Shenzhen later in the evening. Nearby, nurse Yang Wei, 26, was marking her first trip to Hong Kong with her boyfriend Zhang Xin. The couple, who were visiting from Xian, planned to stay three days in Hong Kong, and would hike the MacLehose Trail on Thursday. “I have already hiked the mountains in Xian, and I wanted to hike some by the sea,” she said. Yang added that they did not plan to spend much money and would mostly walk around and take in the city sights. According to Pyromagic Multimedia Productions, the fireworks display will stretch 850 metres (930 yards) across the harbour and reach up to 250 metres in height. This year’s show uses 8,000 more pyrotechnic shells than last year’s. Themed “Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong”, the spectacle will comprise eight scenes, each with a distinct theme incorporating horse motifs and auspicious symbols. The spectacle will open with a dazzling 15-second burst of high-density fireworks to evoke the energy of galloping horses and to bid farewell to the previous year. Vantage points for the event include the promenade outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, the Central waterfront, East Coast Park Precinct in North Point and the harbourfront along Tsim Sha Tsui. Immigration Department data showed that 153,383 visitors arrived in the city on Tuesday, the first day of the new year, representing about a 10.4 per cent increase over the same day last year. Of the visitors, more than 120,000 came from mainland China. As of 4pm on Wednesday, 198,779 visitors had arrived in the city, of which 179,587 were from the mainland. Meanwhile, 323,388 Hongkongers made outbound trips over the same period. The holiday on the mainland runs from Sunday to February 23, spanning nine days from the 28th day of the last month of the lunar calendar to the seventh day after the new year. Authorities have said they expected 1.43 million mainland visitors during the holiday, up by 6 per cent from last year. Additional reporting by Leopold Chen</div>

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<p>Tens of thousands are gathering along Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for the Lunar New Year fireworks, featuring 31,888 pyrotechnic shells at a cost of HK$19 million. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu emphasized the event's significance in showcasing Hong Kong's blend of tradition and modernity. Despite efforts to boost tourism, some mainland visitors plan to leave after the display. The fireworks, themed "Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong," will span 850 meters and reach heights of 250 meters, with increased attendance from mainland tourists noted this year.</p>

Tens of thousands eagerly waiting for Hong Kong Lunar New Year fireworks