Hong Kong aims to maximise Lions impact

With one year to go before Hong Kong hosts its biggest single convention to date - the 88th Lions Clubs International (LCI) Congress 2005 - efforts to maximise attendance have begun in earnest this week, more than 12,000 kilometres away.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour (Economic Development), Sandra Lee, and Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Clara Chong, have been leading a strong Hong Kong delegation to promote the event during the 87th LCI Congress, being held in Detroit.

The culmination of their endeavours was a Hong Kong Reception held at the close of the Congress yesterday evening, giving Lions from all over the world an alluring glimpse of the excitement and spectacle they can look forward to at next year's event.

It is anticipated that some 30,000 Lions will participate in the 88th Congress to be held from 27 June to 1 July 2005, surpassing the 25,000 who came last time Hong Kong staged the event in 1992 - a figure that still stands as the city's record for a single convention.

Ms Chong noted that this would bring enormous benefit to Hong Kong's hotels, restaurants, retailers, tourist attractions and related sectors. "According to our surveys, the average intended per capita spending of convention and exhibition visitors is over HK$11,000, twice that of the average visitor," she said.

"In addition, international conventions of this scale and prestige reinforce Hong Kong's status as Asia's world city. Staging the 1992 LCI Congress helped highlight Hong Kong's professionalism and experience as a convention location and since then many other major international organisations have been attracted by these capabilities."

In conjunction with Lions District 303 [Hong Kong and Macau], planning work for the 2005 Congress has been under way ever since Hong Kong won the bid six years ago against very strong competition. Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa is the Patron of a Steering Committee that includes other principal officials, the heads of various Government departments, and representatives of the transport and tourism industries.

Speaking at the Hong Kong reception in Detroit, Ms Chong told Lions members that this strength of support demonstrated the all-round backing received for the 2005 Congress from every sector of the community, and would ensure that this large-scale event was conducted smoothly, efficiently and professionally.

A highlight of the LCI Congress is always the annual parade in which Lions from all over the world file through the streets behind their district banners. Ms Chong promised the Lions that their 2005 parade would be most memorable ever, taking place in the evening with Hong Kong's stunning night-time harbour skyline - one of the world's best known tourist attractions - as its backdrop.

She especially urged delegates to consider bringing their spouses and family with them to Hong Kong next year. "There are attractions to delight visitors of all ages and interests and Hong Kong is very safe and visitor-friendly," she noted.

The HKTB has already arranged attractive hotel and travel offers for the visiting Lions and is encouraging retailers, restaurants and other tourism partners to take full advantage of this huge business opportunity by offering special privileges. An extensive programme of sightseeing tours is also being organised for the guests, allowing them to visit Mainland China as well as discovering the diversity of Hong Kong.

"The Lions movement is a truly global organisation and its members are businessmen, professionals and community leaders in their own countries, so this is a great opportunity to demonstrate Hong Kong's strengths as a business and leisure destination to a very influential audience," Ms Chong explained. "We are all determined to take full advantage of it."