I'll be leaving Hong Kong the night of the New Year's fireworks on an 11:35 p.m. plane. I don't suppose it will be possible to see the fireworks and make the plane will it? Any suggestions about how else I might see them - maybe on T.V. at the airport?
Thanks.

Yes, you can make it. Fireworks is from 8pm to 8:23pm. You can find a spot near the Central piers, and then you can take the Airport Express train that gets you to the airport in 23 minutes. If you're flying certain airlines and not coming to the US, you can even check-in your luggage at the AE station in Central.

Dear rkkwan,

Thanks very much for your reply. I've read several times that the fireworks start at 9pm. Are you sure they start at 8?

to rkkwan : You say the fireworks are from 8 pm ? We are arriving HK at 7pm and had hoped to make it to see the fireworks which we thought started at 9 pm. Are you sure of the time ? We are staying at the New World Renaissance and have arranged for their limo to pick us up. If they start at 8 pm is there any chance we can be there on time ?

This is the official poster from the government department running the show. All indication is that it's at 8:00pm.

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Entertainm...rks/index.html

galiano - HKG is a pretty large airport, and my experience is that it'll take at least 25 minutes from the plane touching down to you getting out of the customs area - that's if immigration isn't particular busy and if your bags come out early. And it'll take half an hour by car to Tsimshatsui on a normal day. While the expressway from the airport is straight and empty, radars are everywhere so no professional driver will drive over the speed limit of 110km/h. And then you have to go through the road block and crowds to get to the New World Renaissance. I don't know if the driver has any tricks or if he has some alternative in mind, but otherwise, you'll probably only see the fireworks over buildings through the windshield - and only if you're lucky.

Hi Rkkwan,

According to the government site you gave, the firewords that start at 8pm are for the lunar New Year on Jan. 23 (I think.) Can you find out the time of the Chinese New Year's fireworks? If they are at 9, I won't be able to see them and make my 11:35 flight, will I?

ragwort - Check that link again. It is for the Lunar New Year fireworks, Thursday Feb 10, 2005, which is the 2nd day of the lunar calendar.

I think that is very clear, and don't see how there can be further confusion.

Direct quote:
"2005 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display

10 February 2005 (Thursday)
8:00pm (around 23 minutes)

Sponsor: Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited
Coordinator: Home Affairs Bureau

Enquiries: 2591 1340"

BTW, Lunar New Year = Chinese New Year

rkkwan,

Very embarassing. You're right of course. I had found a reference to last year's fireworks on January 23 and confused them with this year's. Thanks very much for the clarification.