London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

National Day fireworks on 70th anniversary of People’s Republic of China could be cancelled over protests crisis, Hong Kong government source says

National Day fireworks on 70th anniversary of People’s Republic of China could be cancelled over protests crisis, Hong Kong government source says

City leaders ‘inclined’ to cancel annual event that generally draws some 300,000 spectators to both sides of harbour. Event has only been cancelled twice – 2013 over Lamma Island boat tragedy and 2014 because of the Occupy protests.

Hong Kong officials are inclined to cancel the annual National Day fireworks because of the ongoing protest crisis, a government source told the Post on Thursday.

Cancellation is an option despite this year being the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the source said, and the decision was being considered by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her top ministers.

“There is an inclination [to call it off]. What if protesters set fires in the street? We cannot let rioters have the opportunity to wreak havoc – and we also have to protect residents and travellers,” he said.

Since Hong Kong was returned from British rule in 1997, the annual display has brought about 300,000 residents and tourists to both sides of Victoria Harbour for the visual experience. It was cancelled in 2013 because of the Lamma Island boat tragedy and in 2014 because of the Occupy protests.

A citywide protest movement was set off in June over a now-shelved extradition bill. What began as peaceful marches escalated into violent clashes with police, with protesters hurling petrol bombs and officers responding with rubber bullets and beanbag rounds.

The city’s metro stations have become prime targets of radicals and demonstrators have also flocked to shopping malls. In recent nights, many have gathered to sing their new protest anthem, Glory to Hong Kong, in the latest form of defiance.

Politicians across the political spectrum had said the government should consider cancelling the fireworks unless officials could guarantee the public’s safety.

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Leung Che-cheung, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said Lam’s administration must not insist on staging the annual display.

“It should be held if it is safe. But if there is chaos, would spectators be prevented from going home?” Leung said. “Protesters might use it as an opportunity to take revenge on the government.”

Stanley Ng Chau-pei, president of the pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, said: “The government needs to make safety assessments. We should definitely celebrate the National Day, but it is possible that those rioters would cause trouble.”

Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai said this year’s display should be called off.

“When society is so unstable and divided, and the government has been cracking down on protests, what are the reasons for a firework display? ” Wu said. “It’s just completely opposite to how society is feeling these days.”

The government has been looking business groups to sponsor the firework display since last October.

In an audio recording recently leaked to Reuters, Lam is heard saying at a closed-door meeting that the government had made a “special arrangement” for National Day.

Lam was recorded saying: “There will be National Day celebrations, but we are still having a lot of disruptions so we are going for modest but solemn celebrations on October 1.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×