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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the "Hong Kong - The Perfect Choice" reception at Ferry Building, San Francisco, the United States today (June 13, San Francisco time):
Mayor Newsom, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I am deeply delighted to be back in beautiful San Francisco to meet with you tonight in the historic Ferry Building. It is a pleasure and an honour to be joined by Mayor Newsom and my good friend Secretary Shultz. You have all taken the time to be with us. Mayor Newsom has also declared today "Hong Kong Day!" Thank you!
I would also like to thank all of you for helping us to celebrate the launch of our national publicity campaign with NBC, the official United States broadcaster for the Beijing Olympics. NBC will be covering the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events to be staged in Hong Kong this summer. We are looking forward to welcoming people from all around the world for a feast of equestrian sport in Hong Kong.
San Francisco and Hong Kong have a great deal in common. Our social, cultural and business ties go back as far as the 1850s. We each have a dazzling skyline, a beautiful harbour, steep hills, trams, and a well-earned reputation for great food.
Like San Francisco, Hong Kong is a diverse and colourful tourist destination. Last year we welcomed a record 28 million visitors – that's four times our population – which makes us one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Hong Kong is the perfect choice for both leisure and business travellers. Every year, Hong Kong plays host to more than 300 international conventions and exhibitions, including some of the world's largest. In recent years we have hosted the World Trade Organisation's Ministerial Conference, and ITU Telecom World. Every year we play host to the world's best rugby 7s tournament, and we also host world-class events in golf, cricket, squash, badminton... and even dancing!
First-rate facilities, global connectivity, a professional workforce, a commitment to excellence, quality services and ample entertainment opportunities all add up to ensure the success of any event being held in Hong Kong.
But we never rest on our laurels. We want Hong Kong to continue to be the perfect choice for business, leisure, conventions and exhibitions for many, many years to come. That is why we are constantly looking for ways to upgrade our tourism facilities and the tourism experience in Hong Kong.
In just a few weeks' time – on July 1 – we will remove the Hotel Accommodation Tax so that our visitors will have even more money in their pockets to spend while in Hong Kong.
We are pushing ahead with plans to develop a new world-class cruise terminal on the site of our old airport at Kai Tak – the first berth is expected to be in operation in 2012.
Our Ocean Park is now undergoing a US$700 million facelift that will include new hotels and attractions and be completed in phases by 2012. Our aim is to transform the Ocean Park into the world's best marine-based theme park. New attractions will also be added to Hong Kong Disneyland.
We have also earmarked about US$20 million to enhance Hong Kong's appeal as an international convention, exhibition and tourism capital. And, we will seek to host more large-scale international events, and further expand our exhibition facilities.
As far as large events are concerned, nothing comes much bigger than the Olympics. In less than 60 days, Hong Kong will proudly join the league of Olympic cities by staging the equestrian events on the Beijing Olympiad. This is a great honour for our city, and we are pulling out all stops to ensure they are the best Olympic equestrian events ever.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has invested US$150 million in state-of-the art facilities, which won rave reviews from competitors and officials after our test event in August last year.
This year's Olympics will include a number of world firsts for the equestrian events: the first 24-hour air conditioned stables for horses; the first indoor air-conditioned training area; the first on-site equine drug testing facilities; the first mobile cooling stations for horses; and, in keeping with the Green Olympics theme, the first 100% recycling of Olympic stable waste.
Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong is both thrilled and confidently prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I invite you to saddle up for a visit to Asia's world city to help us share the Olympic spirit in August!
Finally, I hope that you will enjoy this special evening showcasing Hong Kong's unique characteristics – an international city with stunning scenery, a friendly destination where the welcome is warm, a place filled with energy and opportunity, and the event-hosting capital of Asia.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Saturday, June 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 13:51
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