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Following is a speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung at the Switch-on Ceremony of "Hong Kong WinterFest" at Golden Bauhinia Square this (December 1) evening:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to officiate at the launch of "Hong Kong WinterFest" this evening. This is the culmination of a two-year tourism promotion campaign organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board under the banner of "City of Life: Hong Kong is it!".
"Hong Kong WinterFest" is a special programme blending the best of winter celebrations from the East and the West. As the fifth major programme in the tourism campaign, it will feature a wide range of cultural and culinary attractions at this prime location in the city and harbour.
"Hong Kong WinterFest" is a great example of co-operation among many different sectors of our community - the tourism and hospitality industry, property development and management sector, the entertainment sector as well as the local community at large. By working together, different parties are helping to promote the diverse and exciting attractions that Hong Kong has to offer our visitors, thereby contributing to Hong Kong's position as Asia's most popular city destination.
Special events such as WinterFest can help to promote more visitors to come to Hong Kong. Particularly, a considerable number of these visitors will be coming from across the border in the Mainland, which is our fastest growing tourist source market. In the first ten months of 2002, Hong Kong has paid host to some 5.4 million Mainland visitors, which is nearly a million more than that for the whole of last year.
In terms of total visitor arrivals, we will achieve another record high of over 15 million arrivals for the whole year. The WinterFest programme will provide yet another good reason for people to visit us, and an occasion for us to celebrate the encouraging achievements of the tourism sector. Thank you.
End/Sunday, December 1, 2002
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