HK govt faces backlash over traffic arrangements after New Year's Eve firework show

The Hong Kong authorities have pledged to review the traffic arrangements after large-scale events, as some Chinese tourists complained about long waiting hours to return home after the New Year fireworks display last Sunday (31 December 2023).

The city's secretary for security Chris Tang said during a press briefing on 1 January that apart from the existing control points operating 24 hours, the authorities are discussing with relevant mainland authorities to review whether the operating hours of the checkpoints will be extended.

This came after services to the border stations of Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line checkpoints became unavailable on Monday morning, just after the New Year fireworks performance. It resulted in crowds of people gathering at the Sheung Shui stop to wait for the first cross-border train to return to the mainland. 

The incident has drawn mixed reactions across social platforms. According to media intelligence firm CARMA, there were over 500 mentions regarding traffic congestion following the New Year's Eve celebration. Out of these mentions, approximately 21.1% were negative, while 16% were positive.

Netizens' reactions appear to be divided into two sides, said Charles Cheung, CARMA’s HK GM. “A significant portion of netizens, especially on RED, expressed their discontent with the arrangement. They described the situation as chaotic and disorganised,” Cheung added.

Conversely, others believed that visitors should have anticipated such a situation and made plans ahead of time before deciding to cross the border to watch the fireworks, Cheung said. 

“It's worth noting that we also observed many netizens expressing their dissatisfaction towards taxi drivers who overcharged their fares or refused to use the meters,” Cheung added. 

Meanwhile, social monitoring firm Meltwater saw over 500 mentions in Hong Kong regarding the traffic congestion since 27 December 2023, with 11.3% positive, 85% neutral and 3.8% negative sentiments. The keywords generated include “operating hours” (服務時間), “fireworks” (煙花) and “transportation” (交通).

Commenting on the incident, Timothy Chui, executive director, Hong Kong Tourism Association, told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that while the traffic jam was avoidable, it could harm Hong Kong's reputation as a tourist destination in the short term.

Chui suggested that the government should make adequate preparations to accommodate tourists in the future. “For example, for upcoming events with large-scale gatherings such as the annual fireworks display during the Lunar New Year, the Luohu Port can open for 24 hours,” Chui said. 

Organised by the HKTB, the firework musical performance of “Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations” bid farewell to 2023 and welcomed 2024. The fireworks lasted for 12 minutes and were themed with the cycling seasons, surprising locals and visitors alike with magnificent bliss.

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