I just arranged for a two day layover in Hong Kong Dec 30 to January 2. Are there New Years Eve Activities I would probably want to know about?

There are usually fireworks in Victoria Harbour on New Years Eve at midnight. Get a room with a harbour view or be someplace like a restaurant or bar which has a view to see them. (I would go to one of the S e v v a restaurants, and step outside onto the terrace for the fireworks; Hutong would also work, of course Felix is great for NY Eve but pricey, they generally have a band). Last year it was actually freezing (well, it was about 48 F which is <i> very cold</i> for us). I personally would avoid the Lan Kwai Fong bar area, but if you are under 30 and/or feel the need to reminisce about your frat party days, then perhaps you would enjoy it. Soho is a little more grown-up. Many restaurants have somewhat overpriced set meals for that night, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet, or if you go early you may be able to avoid these. Otherwise, it is like any typical large city on NY Eve, i.e. you will have a hard time getting a cab. Walk if you can.

The weather is generally fabulous then (&quot;cold&quot; notwithstanding) so I would also plan some walking and hiking as Dec and Jan are the best months for it, dry and sunny and not hot.

Thank you for the information. I was able to get a partial harbor view. Glad I didn't wait to book a room as some hotels had no vacancy.
Will try to avoid the pricy new years eve fare--perhaps wine and take out in our room.

Looking forward to doing some walking and hiking. I have printed some of your messages with hike information.

There is NO major fireworks usually for western New Year over Victoria Harbour. Unless something's changing for next year.

You will have smaller scale stuff at various locations around Hong Kong. Foreigners like to go to Lan Kwai Fong. Locals go to Time Square in Causeway Bay. There may also be some small countdown parties outside City Hall in Central.

But no major fireworks.

All the major hotels will have very expensive dinner/party at all their restaurants.

Well, I have only lived in Hong Kong for about 10 years, and will admit that I have only been here for maybe 3-4 New Years Eves, but there have been fireworks on most, if not all, of those occasions. (My memory of these does start to run together, as there are fireworks at least two other times each year as well, on October 1, and on the Chinese/Lunar New Year.) However, I remember the ones from last year because it was so cold that I wore a winter coat, and you can well remember standing outside in cold weather in Hong Kong in a long winter coat (almost never happens that you need one). But as I said in my original post, while there are “usually” fireworks, you should check with your hotel. Some company has to pay for them and the city can’t always find someone willing to do so.

For a really nice view of last year’s fireworks on New Year’s Eve, see the YouTube link at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xDmWSRtiT8 . Please note the date: December 31, 2007. That is New Year’s Eve on the <i>Julian</i> i.e. “Western” calendar….

We spent New Year's Eve 2007 in Hong Kong.
We had a wonderful buffet dinner at the Harbourside restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel, Kowloon. It's right on the promenade, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the harbor. I hate fixed menus, so this buffet was just perfect, elegantly presented, and it was amazingly diverse - I'm sure you'll enjoy it. We were able to see fireworks with the light show, during dinner, but left before midnight. However, if you want to stay until midnight, reserve a table at the Lobby Bar (just upstairs from the Harbourside, and sharing the same view) for after dinner. I don't think that they serve dinner in the Lobby Bar.
We went back to our hotel room (harbor view from a high floor at the Salisbury) to watch the festivities at midnight, but the celebration was surprisingly sedate.

Dec 31, 2007 was the first time they have a large scale fireworks/light show over Victoria Harbour, with some dramatic lights at the ifc2 building. I saw it on TV (while in China) so I was wrong in my earlier post.

But this stuff was new, as they've never done it before last year. I would assume they'll continue to have it from now on. But that's only an assumption.

Good news. The two developers of ifc have finally agreed to sponsor the fireworks on New Years Eve this year, just like last.

Many people worried that last year's fireworks would be the first and last, because of the economy.