Hong Kong 97 Spectacular  香港97萬丈光芒慶回歸

Art Coordinator 藝術統籌 : Azai Lui (Simon)

這是一場關於家園、夢想與歷史巨浪的終極見證。1996年的幾個晚上，我和好友 James Ring 坐在怡東酒店頂樓餐廳的窗前，俯瞰著腳下燈火璀璨的維多利亞港。我們當時忍不住對望並想像：如果將這整座維多利亞港化為舞台，那將是何等震撼的畫面？

隨後，由「香港明天會更好基金」主辦的97回歸盛典《香港97萬丈光芒慶回歸》（Hong Kong 97 Spectacular），交給了剛在亞特蘭大奧運閉幕禮大放異彩的美國頂尖團隊 Don Mischer Productions (DMP) 負責。這個項目規模之宏大空前未有，James 憑藉其卓越的海事專業與對海洋行動的精準掌控力加入，而身為在這座城市長大的我，更有幸與執行製作人 Don Mischer 及製作人 David Goldberg 的國際團隊緊密配合，以藝術統籌（Art Coordinator）的身份深度參與。能親手為自己出生的土地繪製歷史的新頁，對我們而言，意義早已超越了一份工作。

從1996年底到1997年6月，整整大半年的時間，在兩地的強力協助下，海、陸各方展開了國際級的精密協同與嚴密調度。緊湊的籌備與裝磡有條不紊地推進，一切都在為了那個歷史時刻精準蓄力。終於，來到了1997年7月1日。當晚九點，當萬丈光芒在維港上空徹底綻放，那一刻的震撼與激動，至今仍在我心中泛起不滅的漣漪。這不僅是一次國際頂級盛典的藝術實踐，更有幸的是，能與各方優秀的專業力量並肩，共同為這座屬於我們的城市，完成了歷史上最壯麗的一幕視覺集體記憶。

This is the ultimate testament to homeland, dreams, and the shifting tides of history. Over several evenings in 1996, my close friend James Ring and I sat by the window of the top-floor restaurant at The Excelsior, gazing down at the quiet Victoria Harbour. We looked at each other and wondered: if this entire harbour were to become a stage, how breathtakingly spectacular would it be?

Soon after, the iconic "Hong Kong 97 Spectacular" celebrating the return of sovereignty—sponsored by the Better Hong Kong Foundation—was awarded to the renowned American production firm, Don Mischer Productions (DMP), fresh off their brilliant execution of the Atlanta Olympics closing ceremony. The scale of this project was unprecedented. James joined with his profound maritime expertise, and having grown up on these shores, I was privileged to collaborate closely with Executive Producer Don Mischer and Producer David Goldberg, stepping in as the Art Coordinator. To be able to personally shape the visual narrative for the land that raised us meant more than any ordinary milestone.

From late 1996 to June 1997, it was an exhilarating half-year of meticulous preparation. Supported by strong cross-border collaboration, operations across land and sea were orchestrated with world-class precision and rigorous coordination. Every stage of logistics and installation progressed seamlessly, aligning perfectly for that its singular moment. Finally, July 1, 1997, arrived . At 9:00 PM, as the "Shining Page" of fireworks and light burst into a brilliant symphony over Victoria Harbour, the overwhelming emotion we felt left an indelible ripple in our hearts. This was not merely an art coordination of a world-class celebration; it was the ultimate privilege to stand alongside countless dedicated forces, together crafting the most magnificent collective visual memory in the history of our beloved city.

Hong Kong’s business community commissioned a $13 million show on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour for the evening of 1 July 1997, to celebrate the region’s return to Chinese sovereignty. Adam Bezark partnered with Executive Producer Don Mischer and Producer David Goldberg for the hour-long pageant featuring fountains, lasers, fireworks and an illuminated boat parade. The show, televised throughout Hong Kong, China and around the world, was viewed by over one billion people.

為慶祝香港主權回歸中國，香港商界決定在1997年7月1日晚於香港維多利亞港舉辦1300萬美元的燈光秀。 亞當Bezark與監製Don Mischer 和 製作人 David Goldberg 搭檔策劃了這檔歷時一小時的燈光盛宴，它結合了噴泉、激光、煙火、燈光船遊行等多種元素。 盛會經中國香港在世界各地電視播放，觀賞人數超過十億。