**************************************************
Following is the speech made by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Hong Kong Disneyland groundbreaking ceremony at Penny's Bay this afternoon (January 12):
Michael, Bob, ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to join you all in celebrating the groundbreaking of Hong Kong Disneyland.
Three years ago, we announced our partnership with The Walt Disney Company to bring to Hong Kong a world-class Disney theme park and resort at Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. Disney's choice of Hong Kong as a site for its third international theme park destination is a vote of confidence in our city and in our future. It's the world's best-known and most prestigious theme park and entertainment corporation. We are proud to be partner of The Walt Disney Company in developing Hong Kong Disneyland, which will be a symbol of quality standards, excellence, creativity and technological innovation.
In the past three years, much has been done to make our Disney dream come true. This land that we are now standing on is a testimony of our hard work over the past three years. Today, I am proud to hand over to our Disney partner this piece of reclaimed land, on which magic will work and where Main Street, Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland will rise in a little less than three years' time. Home to Mickey and Minnie, it will be a tremendous, must-see wonderland for kids and adults alike, for both Hong Kong people and million others beyond our shores.
Tourism is a core sector and an important economic driver for us. It is one of the few sectors that has registered growth during the present economic downturn, and it is growing stronger still. In 2002, we welcomed over 16.5 million visitors, representing a spectacular increase of about 20 per cent over 2001, well exceeding our 1999 forecast of arrival level by the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. The outlook for sustained growth is very positive.
We are dedicated to promoting and further strengthening our position as a leading tourist destination in this region, and investing in our tourism infrastructure is a major step in this direction. I have always believed that Hong Kong Disneyland will be a tremendous asset to Hong Kong, and our investment in it a good and sound one. The millions of additional tourist arrivals that it will attract, and the tens of thousands of jobs that it will create here and in the rest of the community are but some tangible indicators of the benefits that Hong Kong will stand to enjoy.
Clearly, Hong Kong Disneyland is our core project towards enhancing Hong Kong's attractiveness as a tourist destination. Our hard work does not stop with Disneyland though. We are also working on a range of initiatives to improve our existing tourism products and introduce new attractions. Take Lantau Island for instance. Apart from Hong Kong Disneyland, the Tung Chung Cable Car system will also be in operation by 2005. A new exhibition centre is being developed at the airport in Chek Lap Kok. Together with initiatives to enhance tourist facilities at the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping and other initiatives to preserve the natural heritage of the Island, Lantau will soon become a truly unique attraction.
The World Tourism Organization has forecast that China will lead the world in tourism by 2020, and Hong Kong will take fifth place, partly because of our Mainland connections. One important factor in these connections is the growing number of tourists coming to Hong Kong from the Mainland. As I mentioned in my Policy Address, in response to a proposal by the Special Administrative Region Government, the Central Government has agreed to study further relaxation of current restrictions to facilitate individual travellers from Guangdong Province to visit Hong Kong in their personal capacity.
We are actively pursuing measures to facilitate these visits. In just about two weeks' time, upon the implementation of 24-hour passenger clearance at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang, passengers, in both directions, may choose to cross the boundary any time they like. We will continue to effect improvements to our boundary crossings.
On "Hardware" facilities, we will also be improving our infrastructure to facilitate the passage of passengers and vehicles through our boundary. The feasibility of building another new bridge and additional railway linking Hong Kong and Guangdong Province is being studied, and if realised, will be a big plus for tourism also.
Yes, we are firmly committed to laying the groundwork for boosting travel and tourism to Hong Kong. With the current trend of tourist arrivals and our efforts in building the infrastructure for tourism and expanding our tourism product, I am confident that we will be more successful than ever as an international tourism attraction. On this very important milestone, Michael, I look forward to our continued cooperation in making the Disney dream come true. Michael, you have done an outstanding job for the Walt Disney Company and I wish you continued success in the coming years in leading Walt Disney to new heights. I look forward to seeing all of you again, ladies and gentlemen, on this very same piece of land with Sleeping Beauty Castle towering in the background, when the magic of Hong Kong Disneyland begins in about three years' time.
Thank you.
End/Sunday, January 12, 2003
NNNN
