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The National Day celebrations on October 1 promise to be fittingly patriotic. For the 49th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic, even the fireworks are to have 'strong Chinese characteristics'.

 Christina Ting Yuk-chee, chairman of the Provisional Urban Council's Entertainment Select Committee, was quite clear about that.

 There would, she said, be 22,000 fireworks. All of them would come from China and would 'therefore' have strong Chinese characteristics.

 Anyone who has ever bought a toy, a pair of designer jeans or, for that matter, a Silkworm missile from China knows 'therefore' it is a slight exaggeration.

 Chinese-made need not be Chinese-style. You cannot, in a world of joint ventures and quality control, even assume that something made in China will be substandard.

 Indeed, by a rather complicated process of personal mental association, Week Ending was reminded of the old advert that used to flash across British TV screens ahead of Bonfire Night on November 5.

 'Light up the sky with Standard Fireworks' went the jingle.

 Enough nostalgia. What, we wondered, were these special Chinese characteristics? Would all the lights be red?  Would the sky be lit up with giant characters spelling out the message 'The Government and the people of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China resolutely congratulate their compatriots on 49 years of glorious socialist rule'?  Would each Mighty Phoenix Cracker or Five Perfumes Rocket explode to release hundreds of tiny parachutes which would gently float down among the crowd bearing fortune-cookie messages?  We rang the Urban Council to find out. 'Flowers,' said a spokeswoman. 'The pattern will be like flowers.'  Fearing a blooming of bauhinias, we took her advice and rang Bentley Media, the public relations company handling the fireworks display for sponsors Hantec Holdings.

 'Well,' admitted Bentley's Vivian Yim Wai-wan, 'they are quite similar to normal fireworks.'  But there would be some red lanterns, which would burn for a remarkable 16 seconds each, some candles, star shapes and other different patterns.

 Disappointed, we asked about the music. Ms Ting had announced the 23-minute, $4.3 million display would be divided into three acts: Celebration of a Nation to express Hong Kong's love for the motherland, A Progressive Nation to show the advances of China since the revolution, and A Bright Future to symbolise Hong Kong's future as an international financial centre in partnership with the mainland.

Would there, we asked, be tinny loudspeakers around town blaring out patriotic music so we could all be uplifted in true revolutionary manner?  No, said Ms Yim, a public address system would be too expensive to install. This was why everyone was being asked to bring along their own radio, so they could listen to the music on RTHK while watching the show on the waterfront.

 The music would also be broadcast on TV, so you could watch the fireworks from the comfort of your armchair.

 And Hantec's guests at their celebration dinner would also be able to listen.

 And what would happen to the fireworks if it rained and the whole thing had to be called off? Could they be kept in storage for the Lunar New Year?  No, Ms Yim assured us, they would all be sent back to China.

 The whole $6.5 billion shebang would be fully insured against washouts.

 Just as well. The money will be needed for even bigger patriotic displays for the 50th anniversary next year.



Price to pay for patriotic spectacle