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Following is a speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the UK launch of "Discover Hong Kong 2006" at Harrods department store, Knightsbridge, London on November 4 (London time):
Lord Mayor of Westminster, Mr Al-Fayed, Mrs Chow, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you to all, and especially to the Lord Mayor for his warm welcome. It's a genuine thrill to be back here in London. Our two cities share many close ties and attributes, and I'm delighted to be part of an event that reinforces the strong bonds that continue to link us.
Tourism not only helps to bind us with so many millions of people overseas, but it is also one of the driving forces of our economy. Last year, we welcomed an astonishing 21.8 million visitors, which made Hong Kong the world's seventh-biggest destination in terms of arrivals - a remarkable achievement for a single-city destination.
Indeed, our tourism industry is so important that we have invested US$4 billion to transform our tourism infrastructure over the next decade, and to offer our visitors an even more diversified and satisfying experience. Attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 and Hong Kong Wetland Park, as well as 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year, are only some of the fruits of that investment underlining the Hong Kong SAR Government's support for tourism. The coming years will bring many more wonderful new attractions, such as the West Kowloon Cultural District and a world-class Cruise Terminal.
It's because of this unique diversity of attractions and experiences that Hong Kong remains such an enduringly popular destination with visitors from around the world. We always strive to maintain a balance of visitors from all key markets. In the first nine months of this year, arrivals from the UK are up almost 15% from the same period last year. Indeed, we have enjoyed double-digit arrivals growth from all our long-haul markets, with some exceeding 30% growth. In this regard we are also fortunate to have so many committed partners and supporters here in the UK, and I would like to thank all of them for continuing to spread the word about Hong Kong.
For our part, we are determined that all our visitors have a memorable stay in Hong Kong, by offering new attractions that will make our city more exciting and fulfilling than ever, along with a warm welcome that you will never forget. So on behalf of everyone in Hong Kong, I invite all of you to come and visit us in 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year. I promise we will make you feel as much at home in Asia's world city as I feel here in London.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Saturday, November 5, 2005
Issued at HKT 08:24
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