HK Disneyland No Impossible Task, FS SaysThe preparation work of the construction of Hong Kong Disneyland is now in its full swing, a senior official said Monday in Hong Kong.The decision to build Hong Kong Disneyland, which was announced by the government 15 months ago, was received very well in Hong Kong and has generated considerable interest overseas, especially in this part of the world, Tsang said. Since then much has been done by the government and the Walt Disney Company to get the project up and running, he said. Today, that process takes another step forward by spelling out, in some detail, the opportunities and benefits likely to flow from this strategic tourism infrastructure project, Tsang stressed. "Walt Disney once said that it's kind of fun to do the impossible, but I don't believe we have an impossible task ahead of us, although it is a truly formidable task," the Financial Secretary Donald Tsang told a conference on preparation for Hong Kong Disneyland, which was held on Monday. "We only have a little over four years to turn the Disney Dream into a Hong Kong reality. Anybody who has been involved with a project of this magnitude will understand that four years are not a long time," Tsang added. The next few years will throw up many, many challenges, he said. "But if by chance the going gets a little tough we may all do well to remember another gem of wisdom from Walt Disney, who reminds us that 'I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a Mouse,'" Tsang noted. He said he had absolutely no doubt that Hong Kong Disneyland will be a tremendous asset for our community. It will help consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's position as the region's Number One tourist destination as well as a major international city, he said. It will also enrich Hong Kong's commercial culture and business practices and introduce new cutting edge technology at a time when Hong Kong is positioning itself as a center for innovation and technology in the Asia-Pacific region, Tsang added. According to Tsang, more than 22 billion HK dollars (US$2.82 billion) in public funds have been earmarked for the project, but it will deliver a far greater dividend in return -- about 148 billion HK dollars (US$18.97 billion) in economic benefits over a 40-year period. Hong Kong Disneyland is expected to attract almost 1.5 million new tourists a year to Hong Kong in the beginning, rising to almost 3 million after 15 years. |
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