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Following is the full text of the speech by the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, at the Signing Ceremony for 'Le Meridien @ Cyberport' today (February 28):

Mr Sagild, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to join you this afternoon to mark the signing of the Hotel Management Agreement for 'Le Meridien @ Cyberport'.

'Le Meridien @ Cyberport' will be a deluxe, international hotel and an integral part of our Cyberport project at Telegraph Bay. The 13-storey hotel will have 176 rooms. It will serve not only corporate executives visiting the Cyberport for business, but also tourists from all corners of the globe. When it is opened towards the end of next year, Cyberport will become a major attraction for business and tourist visitors to Hong Kong.

Designers, architects and planners have all worked closely together to give us a world-class hotel that will be really something special. Some members of the design and construction team are here with us today. I welcome you to Hong Kong and thank you all for your hard work. A great hotel with fantastic facilities also needs a great management team to succeed. In that regard, we have every confidence that Le Meridien will provide excellence in management and service quality at 'Le Meridien @ Cyberport'. With more than 140 hotels around the world under its wing, Le Meridien is already a global leader in the hotel industry.

I consider it a great honour and at the same time take a lot of pride to announce Le Meridien has chosen Cyberport to operate their first hotel in Hong Kong. On behalf of the SAR Government and the community, I wish to extend a very warm welcome to you as our new partner here. I am also very pleased to note that around 150 jobs will be created at the hotel and that the majority of staff will be recruited and trained locally.

Mr Sagild, ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to the opening of 'Le Meridien @ Cyberport' next year. I am sure it will be a great hotel that will not only add to the attraction and success of our Cyberport but also help consolidate Hong Kong's position as the leading tourist destination in Asia.

Thank you very much.

End/Thursday, February 28,2002

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