Dragon flying high at airport
Visitors to Hong Kong will be introduced to Brand Hong Kong on arrival at the airport with the opening of an exhibition in the passenger terminal today (July 20).
The exhibition, which will be staged for at least two months, provides lasting impressions of Hong Kong the city, its people and its wealth of advantages, through photographs and text. It also includes a video, "Gateways and Portals," which portrays Hong Kong's attributes as Asia's world city.
Each visitor to the exhibition will receive as a souvenir, a lapel pin of Brand Hong Kong - the stylised, colourful dragon which incorporates in its design the Chinese characters and English initials for Hong Kong, symbolising the blend of East and West that is an integral part of its character and reflecting its dynamism.
The exhibition attracted thousands of local residents when it was staged in five major shopping malls between May and June.
"The exhibition at the airport will provide an excellent opportunity to promote Hong Kong's success story to the world, on our doorstep," the Secretary for Economic Services, Ms Sandra Lee said at the opening.
Ms Lee said the Brand Hong Kong programme was aimed at focussing international attention on Hong Kong's strengths as Asia's world city.
"It is to publicise, among other things, Hong Kong's strong competitive position as a gateway to China as well as a hub for business throughout the Asia-Pacific region," she said.
"We are determined to maintain our position as a dynamic air cargo and passenger hub, to further enhance our role as a global financial and services centre and to develop Hong Kong as a transportation and logistics centre for the region. The airport is a vital part of the infrastructure that makes this possible."
The Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer, Dr David Pang Ding Jung, said it was fitting for the exhibition to be held at the airport as it celebrated its Third Anniversary this month.
"We are by far Asia's busiest airport and the fifth busiest in the world," he said, noting that 34 million passengers passed through Hong Kong during the past 12 months.
"With that kind of volume, Hong Kong's visual identity will certainly get a lot of exposure among visitors. As a Hong Kong icon and international landmark which serves 130 destinations, the airport is an eminently suitable location for this exhibition."
End/Friday, July 20, 2001
