Budget 2026: Hong Kong’s 22-year-old harbour light show to be replaced

2026-02-25 - 05:05

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)’s 22-year-old harbour light show will be replaced, finance chief Paul Chan told lawmakers on Wednesday. The “Symphony of Lights” show. File photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP. In his 2026 Budget speech, Chan told lawmakers that “A Symphony of Lights,” first launched in 2004, will be replaced in favour of light-themed shows at different locations across the city. “Building on the success of last year’s ‘Immersive Light Show in Central’ featuring spectacular 3D light shows, the HKTB will launch a brand new show with the theme of light festivals across various locations at different times of the year to replace ‘A Symphony of Lights’,” Chan said in Cantonese. The free, daily 10-minute light and sound show – involving buildings across the skyline – was awarded the “Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” title by the Guinness Book of Records in 2005. However, in recent years, it attracted negative reviews on Google and TripAdvisor, with attendees claiming it is a “terrible waste of time, ” and “pathetic.” Funding boost Chan said HK$1.66 billion will be allocated to the HKTB in the coming year, following a 12 per cent boost in visitor arrivals. He said it will seek to attract more overnight visitors, with a focus on mainland cities beyond Guangdong, as well as emerging markets such as ASEAN and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Chan announced an additional HK$1 billion for the Built Heritage Conservation Fund to continue its revitalisation of historic buildings.