New show to replace ‘Symphony of Lights’ at tourist spots in second half of year

A brand new light show to replace Hong Kong’s 22-year-old “A Symphony of Lights” will be launched in various sightseeing spots, such as The Peak, as early as the second half of this year, the city’s tourism minister has said. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui also said on Friday that the new show would build on last year’s “Immersive Light Show in Central”, which featured dynamic 3D projections and adaptable themes. According to the latest budget unveiled on Wednesday, the city will bring down the curtain on A Symphony of Lights, a nightly laser-and-light display synchronised across dozens of buildings since 2004. “Over the past 20 years, A Symphony of Lights has been optimised and updated many times, but relying solely on laser performances from buildings has become somewhat insufficient,” Law said. “After gathering feedback over the past year, we have decided not to allocate resources for major modifications to it.” She added that authorities would organise special farewell events to mark the end of the two-decade-old show. Law described the transition as a move towards greater flexibility and engagement. She noted that the light show held at the Hong Kong WinterFest last year, which projected 3D festive animations with music onto eight buildings in Central, had “received very good responses” and offered greater flexibility and changeable themes. The Tourism Board was actively exploring light festival concepts at established tourist spots, with The Peak cited as a key site that could draw repeat visits, Law said. “The Peak is a place many tourists go to on their first trip to Hong Kong,” she noted. “If they come several times, they might not return, but if we introduce something like a light festival to create an atmosphere, it will greatly enhance the appeal of this traditional attraction at night.” Law said the new events would align with festive periods, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and Halloween, to maximise their impact. But they would not be offered daily, so as to encourage return trips. “I’ve often said lately, [it’s about the] fear of missing out – if the light shows are only tied to festivals or special themes, you won’t see it if you don’t come to Hong Kong at that time,” Law said. “So you must come at a specific time to watch it. After seeing it once, you won’t say ‘I’ve seen it before, so no need to come again’, because the next time there’s another attractive theme, you might feel it’s worth coming back for that.” Law said the government would reveal further details of the show, including its expected cost, later. “We have to be very responsive, so authorities will not wait five or 10 years to review – we have to make adjustments all the time to keep pace,” she said.