Opinion | ‘Golden week’ fireworks flop shows Hong Kong’s tourism plans lack sparkle

However, the show turned out to be a huge letdown, with some mainland visitors taking to social media to express their disappointment. One Xiaohongshu user went as far as saying they felt “scammed” by the quality of the fireworks display. Many complained about only being able to see thick clouds of smoke.

We could blame the weather and credit organisers with putting on a show against the odds. It was better than nothing, right? Alternatively, the government could take this as a learning opportunity.

Setting the first of the monthly pyrotechnics shows for the holiday week around May Day might have been too ambitious. As we have seen with the mess around the waste charging scheme, a trial run might have been in order. That way, officials could have properly managed the expectations of tourists planning to see the show. A scaled-down display would be a disappointment if people had expected the same kind of show the city has put on in the past.

Visitors may well only have seen the…