A highly anticipated drone show marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was cancelled at the last minute on Monday due to a technical glitch, disappointing thousands of spectators who had gathered for the event.
The drone display, organized by Hong Kong’s Tourism Commission, was set to feature 2,099 drones performing synchronized maneuvers along with performances by 1,000 student singers and various youth groups at the West Kowloon Cultural District.
However, a spokesperson for the event said the drone show had to be cancelled after the drone signals were severely interfered with, forcing organizers to use pre-recorded footage from rehearsals to accompany the live singing performances.
Several drones were spotted parked on the lawn of the park, a visual reminder of the technical issues that derailed the grand spectacle.
“I am very disappointed when they said there was a technical glitch because we waited a very long time and couldn’t see it. There was also a delay with the singing performance as well,” said a primary school student surnamed Chan, expressing the frustration felt by many in attendance.
In a statement, the Hong Kong government attributed the signal interference to weather conditions, insisting there was no human intervention that caused the failure of the drone show.
The cancellation of the highly anticipated drone performance was a major letdown for the celebration of China’s National Day in Hong Kong, which has struggled with political turmoil in recent years. The technical glitch overshadowed what was meant to be a display of national pride and cultural vitality.
