Hong Kong set for more wet weather this week, as tourism chief tells visitors to be ‘mentally prepared’ for changes to Labour Day fireworks
- Tourism chief Kevin Yeung says authorities will not know whether Labour Day fireworks on Wednesday will be ‘affected’ until just hours before 8pm start
- Unstable weather has hit city over past 11 days, prompting the Observatory to issue five amber rainstorm warnings and 13 thunderstorm alerts
Hong Kong is set for more heavy rain and thunderstorms this week, prompting the tourism minister to tell visitors to be “mentally prepared” for last-minute changes to a holiday fireworks display.
Tourism minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said on Sunday authorities were fully prepared at border crossings to cope with anticipated crowds for the coming “golden week” Labour Day holiday and the hotel sector had reported strong room bookings.
The holiday, which begins on Wednesday, lasts five days in mainland China and is expected to bring in more than 800,000 tourists to the city.
“We may not know whether the evening fireworks show will be affected until the afternoon of May 1, as it is a rain issue. We hope that tourists coming to Hong Kong will be mentally prepared … that some performances may not be able to be held,” he said.
“But we are confident that tourists coming to Hong Kong will have a happy holiday despite the relatively bad weather.”
A trough of low pressure brought more gloomy weather on Sunday, with thundery showers expected to move eastward gradually, according to the Observatory.
