(TAN): Hong Kong will usher in 2020 with a lucky draw featuring over HKD 4 million (USD 513,800 approximately) in prizes that will be open to both locals and tourists.
Hong Kong Tourism Board arranged the draw titled “Hong Kong New Year Countdown Lucky Draw” for the first time ever after the city’s usual firework display was cancelled owing to fears amid the ongoing anti-government protests, now in its seventh month, reports said.
Participants will stand a chance to win over 20,000 prizes from the online draws that will be carried out over two rounds – they can take part in games to win a supermarket cash coupon worth HKD 100, or win grand prizes of round trip plane tickets from Cathay Pacific between Hong Kong any destination across the globe, Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max phones, hotel stays, and attraction vouchers.
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Everyone in Hong Kong will be able to join in the lucky draw that is scheduled to take place today between 1800 hours and 2330 hours.
Also, an enhanced version of “Symphony of Lights” – the light and sound show will light up the Victoria Harbour, along with a display of “2020” on the Hong Kong Convention Centre façade as the clock strikes midnight. The countdown show will reportedly be broadcast on television, and streamed live on the board’s website and social media platforms.
Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Executive Director, Dane Cheng Ting-yat reportedly said they had two to three weeks to prepare the new plan for the New Year’s celebrations, after the fireworks display was cancelled.
“If it was a full-scale fireworks show, it’d usually attract hundreds of thousands of people. But there are other concerns such as traffic and manpower arrangements, which would be challenging,” Cheng was quoted by South China Morning Post as saying.
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The traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks show was cancelled over security concerns as the event sees large crowds. On both sides of the harbor, as per reports. The fireworks usually bring business to the city’s tourism sector, as visitors reportedly prefer booking hotel rooms and staying the night after the event ends at midnight.
“The Hong Kong Tourism Board places high importance on public safety of all events it organises. In view of the current situation in Hong Kong, we have decided to adopt a new format for this year’s New Year Countdown event,” Hong Kong Tourism Board said, according to a Bloomberg report.
According to reports, the total cost for the improved light and sound show, lucky draw prizes and other technical support could stand at HKD 10 million, vis-à-vis HKD 14 million for last year’s conventional fireworks display.
