New Year Countdown Celebration

The New Year Countdown Celebration which consists of a fireworks and pyrotechnic display will take place around midnight on the New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2024 and last for about 12 minutes.

The fireworks will be discharged from 4 barges and 14 pontoons anchored off the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), and from 2 barges and 2 pontoons anchored off Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) respectively. The pyrotechnics will be discharged from the rooftops of 3 buildings on Hong Kong Island.

It is anticipated that a large number of spectator vessels will gather in the Central Harbour to view the display. Pursuant to Part 10A of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation (Cap. 548F) with regard to the Requirements Relating to Passenger Safety during Major Events at Sea, a Specified Area will be established in the Central Harbour.

The Specified Area comprising a Restricted Area and two Closed Areas is formed by the shoreline of both sides of the Victoria Harbour and straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (C) as the western boundary; and from (D) to (E) as the eastern boundary:
(A) 22° 17.915’N / 114° 09.490’E
(B) 22° 17.406’N / 114° 09.267’E
(C) 22° 17.266’N / 114° 09.227’E
(D) 22° 18.011’N / 114° 11.368’E
(E) 22° 17.476’N / 114° 11.541’E

Two Closed Areas, encompassing the craft anchored off HKCEC and TST to stage the aforesaid waterborne fireworks display, will be established with the following details:

Closed Area 1

(i) The area is formed by 4 straight lines joining the following positions (WGS 84 Datum):
(1) 22° 17.355’N / 114° 10.787’E
(2) 22° 17.185’N / 114° 10.787’E
(3) 22° 17.185’N / 114° 09.946’E
(4) 22° 17.355’N / 114° 09.946’E

(ii) The 4 barges (a) to (d) and 14 pontoons (e) to (r) for discharging fireworks will be anchored at the following positions (WGS 84 Datum):
(a) 22° 17.270’N 114° 10.048’E
(b) 22° 17.270’N 114° 10.255’E
(c) 22° 17.270’N 114° 10.478’E
(d) 22° 17.270’N 114° 10.685’E
(e) 22° 17.265’N 114° 10.130’E
(f) 22° 17.268’N 114° 10.158’E
(g) 22° 17.272’N 114° 10.186’E
(h) 22° 17.275’N 114° 10.214’E
(i) 22° 17.265’N 114° 10.296’E
(j) 22° 17.267’N 114° 10.324’E
(k) 22° 17.269’N 114° 10.352’E
(l) 22° 17.271’N 114° 10.380’E
m) 22° 17.273’N 114° 10.408’E
(n) 22° 17.275’N 114° 10.436’E
(o) 22° 17.265’N 114° 10.519’E
(p) 22° 17.268’N 114° 10.547’E
(q) 22° 17.272’N 114° 10.575’E
(r) 22° 17.275’N 114° 10.603’E

Closed Area 2

(iii) The area is formed by 4 straight lines joining the following positions (WGS 84 Datum):
(5) 22° 17.562’N / 114° 10.394’E
(6) 22° 17.383’N / 114° 10.394’E
(7) 22° 17.383’N / 114° 10.070’E
(8) 22° 17.562’N / 114° 10.070’E

(iv) The 2 barges (u) (one without fireworks) and 2 pontoons (s) and (t) for discharging fireworks will be anchored at the following positions (WGS 84 Datum):
(s) 22° 17.472’N / 114° 10.158’E
(t) 22° 17.472’N / 114° 10.218’E
(u) 22° 17.472’N / 114° 10.292’E

The barges and pontoons staying inside the Closed Areas are connected by wire ropes illuminated by LED lights. The Closed Area 1 and Closed Area 2 will be closed to all marine traffic except crafts directly involved in the fireworks display, Government launches and vessels with special permission from the Director of Marine (to be collectively called excepted vessels). The Closed Area 1 will be established from 1230 hours on 31 December 2024 to about 0300 hours on 1 January 2025; and Closed Area 2 will be established from 2300 hours on 31 December 2024 to about 0100 hours on 1 January 2025.

A Restricted Area will be established in the Central Harbour from 2300 hours on 31 December 2024 to about 0100 hours on 1 January 2025 with the following details:

(i) The Eastern Cordon Line (ECL) of the Restricted Area is a straight line joining the south extremity of MTR Hung Hom Freight Terminal Pier and the breakwater at Kellett Island, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The Western Cordon Line (WCL) of the Restricted Area is a straight line joining the southwest extremity of the Ocean Terminal and the Central Government Pier.

(ii) No vessels, other than excepted vessels, will be allowed to enter or remain within the Restricted Area during the period from 2300 hours on 31 December 2024 to about 0100 hours on 1 January 2025.

Other than the Closed Areas and the Restricted Area, spectator vessels are allowed to enter or remain in the remaining water areas of the Specified Area during the period from 2200 hours on 31 December 2024 to 0100 hours on 1 January 2025 (“specified period”). These vessels shall comply with the requirements of the marine traffic control measures.

To prevent speeding and minimize head-on encounters of vessels after the fireworks and pyrotechnic display, the WCL and ECL of the Restricted Area will be lifted at stagger time, i.e. the WCL will be lifted at about 0100 hours on 1 January 2025 and the ECL will be lifted later depending on the traffic condition in the Central Harbour. It is anticipated that the Restricted Area will be completely lifted at about 0115 hours on 1 January 2025.

To facilitate landside crowd control, the public landing steps at Kowloon Public Pier will be closed from 2200 hours on 31 December 2024 to about 0100 hours on 1 January 2025 (except No.4 and No.5 landing steps at Kowloon Public Pier will be closed from 2000 hours on 31 December 2024 to about 0100 hours on 1 January 2025), while other public landing steps within the Restricted Area will be closed from 2230 hours on 31 December 2024 to about 0100 hours on 1 January 2025.

Special marine traffic control measures for the New Year Countdown Celebration will be executed. All vessels should navigate with caution and pay attention to these measures given in the Annex to this Notice.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at [email protected])

Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.240/2024