Lights, camera, action: The photo that Ng went through great lengths to capture on the front page of ‘The Star’ on July 1, 1997.

       TO the casual observer, page 1 of The Star on July 1, 1997, was “just” another pretty picture of a fireworks extravaganza.

       But a careful inspection would reveal water marks on the photograph that had been caused by a downpour just as photo editor Ng Kok Leong captured the image – in Hong Kong – hence, getting his camera lens wet.

       It had been an indelible experience for him.

       He was there for the historic occasion when Hong Kong was returned to Beijing. The handover at midnight on June 30, 1997, marked the end of 156 years of British rule.

       Besides Ng, The Star was represented by senior newsmen Charles Chan, Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and the late Datuk Wong Sai Wan who were there to cover what then Chinese president Jiang Zeming described as an occasion that would “go down in the annals of history as a day that merits eternal memory”.

       One of their reports noted that the HK$3.9mil fireworks display to mark the ceremony was more than just symbolic as it was a joint effort between British and Chinese companies.

       The 18 tonnes of fireworks were shot from barges to illuminate the skies over Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

       It was a 20-minute extravaganza.

       But while 4,000 dignitaries and guests attended the joint Sino-British handover ceremony, which began at 11.30pm at the grand hall of the Convention and Exhibition Centre, the ordinary folk crammed Victoria Harbour to watch the fireworks display at 8.15pm.

       Thinking that he should be there early, Ng arrived at Victoria Harbour at about 4pm and was greeted by a scene best described as “people mountain, people sea” (a Chinese phrase about massive crowds). He could hardly find a spot to set up his equipment.

       “Every inch was taken up,” he recalled.

       When he approached someone to let him have some space, the man told Ng:

       “Sai low (younger brother), we have been lining up since 9.30am.”

       Ng walked the entire stretch and could not get anyone who would let him squeeze in. After about an hour, he found a family who told him the same thing: They had been standing there (to book the spot) since 9am forgoing lunch and dinner.

       So, Ng volunteered to get McDonald’s for the two children in the family.

       It was only then that they allowed Ng to join them at their precious position.

       As luck would have it, a downpour began at about 7pm.

       Worried about his cameras, he asked the man to provide him shelter under his umbrella.

       “If I were to do that, my kids would get wet,” the man told him.

       Ng made him another offer: “Can you buy an umbrella for me? I will pay you.”

       And that was how Ng became HK$200 poorer that night. That would be RM107 in today’s exchange, excluding burgers for the family.

       And he didn’t even get the umbrella as a keepsake, as he decided to give it to the family of four who were sharing just one umbrella.

       Once he was done with the photo-taking, Ng rushed to a colour lab to get the rolls of film processed.

       Those were the days without digital cameras or handphones so Ng had brought 100 rolls of film for the Hong Kong assignment.

       “The colour lab was due to close at 9pm,” he recalled, so he had no time to waste.

       It was just a 10-minute MRT ride to the lab, but the station was so crowded that Ng ended up walking one km to another MRT station.

       Eventually, Ng arrived back at his hotel room at 11pm to scan the images and send them back to The Star.

       One of his photos made it to the front page the very next day.

       “If you look at the image, there are water marks on it as the camera lenses were wet,” Ng said.

       It had somehow made the picture look more surreal.

       Ng also recounted how he had set up his tripod that night, surrounded by crowds with children jostling around.

       “There were strong winds as well. Many of the pictures turned out blurry.

       “Luckily, my camera didn’t jam,” he said.

       Despite the “misadventures”, including getting drenched and falling near the MRT station as the road was slippery, Ng remains thrilled about the experience.

       “It was exciting to witness history. There is no ‘second time’ for such a handover,” he said.

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