Hong Kong scraps Peak light show after opposition, revises plan
Hong Kong authorities have decided to scrap the "Peak Light Spectacular" project, citing community concerns and doubts about its effectiveness. The Tourism Board will remove installations and restore the site.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the government have decided not to proceed with the "Peak Light Spectacular" project along Lugard Road and Har Mer Road on the Peak. The government said in a statement that after considering district opinions, the project's expected effectiveness after adjustments, and existing and upcoming tourism products and activities, it concluded there was no urgent need to proceed with the project.
The HKTB will remove all related installations as soon as possible and fully restore the affected areas to their original condition, the government said.
In a document submitted to the Central and Western District Council, the government and the HKTB said that after learning about concerns from district councillors and residents regarding the design of some facilities this month, they responded quickly. Authorities considered a revised plan that would reduce the number of attraction points along the route from 10 to seven, decrease the number of trees used for hanging lights from 52 to about 24, remove some light fixtures, and shorten the implementation period to the end of February next year. However, after evaluation, they concluded that the revised plan might not fully address all concerns.
The authorities noted that the project was originally intended to inject new elements into a traditional attraction, encouraging tourists to revisit and extend their stay in Hong Kong. However, they worried that after significant downsizing, the project would struggle to present the original design concept and lighting effects, potentially affecting the overall experience and attractiveness, and might not achieve the expected results.
With the year-end festive season approaching, Hong Kong will host events such as the Winter Tour and New Year's Eve countdown. Considering district opinions and the availability of other tourism products and activities, the government said it no longer saw an urgent need to proceed with the Peak Light Spectacular.