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CE's speech at tourism promotion event in Moscow (English only)(with video)
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     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the opening ceremony of a Hong Kong tourism promotion event in Moscow this evening (August 31) (English only):

Ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening.

     I am delighted to be here in Moscow and to have this opportunity to speak to so many Russian friends from the travel industry.

     Tourism is one of our most important industries, so allow me to share with you some of the joys of visiting Hong Kong.

     Located on the southeast tip of China, Hong Kong sits right at the heart of East Asia. It is a financial, business and aviation hub for the entire region.

     We call Hong Kong, Asia's World City. It is one of the safest places in the world with a vibrant culture and international outlook combined with a sophisticated and diverse society.  Throughout Hong Kong's history, our Chinese heritage has been blended with Western influences, giving rise to a melting pot of cultures.

     This is demonstrated in many aspects of our daily life as well as our architecture, leisure pursuits and, of course, our year-round festivals.

     Festive Hong Kong Week celebrates the wide variety of festivals that enhance the Hong Kong experience for our visitors.

     We embrace traditional Chinese festivals such as Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. We also have our own homegrown festivities including the world-famous Bun Festival on our beautiful outlying island of Cheung Chau. And, being an international city, we mark important dates around the world such as Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving.

     You can see the cubes on display right behind me showcasing our wide spectrum of festivities.

     Naturally, festivals are just part of the Hong Kong experience. Hong Kong is known around the world as a "shoppers' paradise", and for good reasons.

     A huge variety of products and wide range of high-end brands line our shopping districts. And with competitive prices and no sales tax, shoppers find that their spending money goes a bit further than they might have expected.

     Together with shopping, dining out is part of the Hong Kong way of life. There is something for every taste and in every price range from traditional teahouses to Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants. And with zero duties on wine imports to Hong Kong, you won't have any problem matching your chosen dishes with your favourite wine.

     Let's not forget about our young visitors.

     We have two major theme parks. Ocean Park is a popular wildlife park with some thrilling rides while Hong Kong Disneyland presents a fairytale day out for the kids. There are also great beaches, memorable cable car rides, theatres and museums all within easy reach from the city centre.  

     Ladies and gentlemen, I have covered some of the main attractions that helped to attract almost 30 million visitors to Hong Kong last year.

     Looking to the future, a major investment in our tourism industry is a world-class cruise terminal, which is currently under construction. When the first berth opens in mid-2013, the terminal will be able to handle the largest cruise ships and provide even more tourism opportunities.

     I am encouraged by the growing number of travellers between Hong Kong and Russia in both directions since we introduced visa-free travel in July last year.

     Since then, the number of Russian visitors to Hong Kong has almost doubled compared to the previous 12 months. In response to this trend, two Hong Kong-based airlines have launched new direct passenger services between Moscow and Hong Kong.

     Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, or with family or friends, there is something for everyone in Hong Kong. And the Moscow office of our Hong Kong Tourism Board is a great source of travel information. You may also like to check out its Russian website.

     Another great way to learn more about Hong Kong and our culture before you travel is through our celebrated film industry. Starting this Thursday, Hong Kong will be staging its first ever film festival in Russia at Moscow's 35mm Cinema. "Echoes Of The Rainbow" which won a Crystal Bear award at this year's Berlin Film Festival, will be among the films shown from September 2 to 7. I watched it in Hong Kong. It's a good one. If you want to know about what life was like in Hong Kong in the less well-off 1960s, that's a movie you should not miss.

     Last but not least, I would like to thank you for the warm hospitality we have received in Moscow. I look forward to closer ties between the travel sectors of Russia and Hong Kong and to welcoming even more Russian friends to Asia's world city.

     Thank you.

Ends/Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:48

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