Hong Kong’s annual New Year’s Eve “Balldrop” in Causeway Bay’s Times Square has been cancelled for the first time in two decades.
Despite speculation that it’s something to do with Occupy Central (remember when they cancelled the National Day fireworks?) a spokeswoman for Time Square denied the government’s obvious fear of people gathering in large numbers outside has anything to do with it, and claimed the decision is simply due to a “format change”.
Instead of the ceremony, which is copied from the much grander version in Times Square, New York, there will be a series of afternoon concerts starting from Dec. 28.
Performers include Cantopop duo Shine, Hong Kong dreamboat Alfred Hui, and six-year-old cutie pie Celine Tam.
There will be no fireworks, but as everything is being held inside the mall this year, that’s probably a good thing.
The countdown to Christmas Day at Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour City has also been scrapped, so make sure you mark your diaries.
Photo: Pixabay
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