TEENAGE AMBASSADORS TEAM UP TO PROMOTE CITY OF LIFE

Nearly 170 young people were today (20 August) appointed Hong Kong Student Ambassadors and Hong Kong Young Ambassadors at the Government House, to speak about, and to promote, the “City of Life” here and abroad.

The appointment session coincides with the official launch of the “Stamp Rally”, which is one of the promotions of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! tourism campaign.

Officiating at the pledge ceremony were Financial Secretary Mr Antony Leung, GBS, JP; The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Executive Director Dr The Hon Rosanna Wong, JP; Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Chairman The Hon Mrs Selina Chow, JP; and Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Rebecca Lai, JP.

The youngsters include 85 Hong Kong Student Ambassadors who are on their way to study abroad, and 84 Hong Kong Young Ambassadors, all of whom are Form 5 secondary school students in Hong Kong.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Leung thanked the ambassadors for accepting the mission of promoting Hong Kong. He also encouraged them to do their best in showcasing Hong Kong’s energy, vibrancy and hospitality culture to everyone they meet.

The first group of ambassadors will promote Hong Kong overseas to heighten awareness of the SAR’s attractions, while the latter will spread the message of hospitality to tourists and residents in Hong Kong.

The HKTB is providing the Student Ambassadors with the most up-to-date information about Hong Kong through its Web site and support from its worldwide offices. Young Ambassadors will lend a hand by taking part in a wide range of City of Life: Hong Kong is it! activities.

Dr Wong said she hoped that the Student Ambassadors would fulfil at least three major duties. “As ambassadors, they have the responsibility to represent Hong Kong, to actively promote their home, and to enhance cultural exchanges,” she said.

Mrs Lai echoed these wishes. “The proactive participation of the Young Ambassadors demonstrates that Hong Kong’s younger generation is both knowledgeable and hospitable,” she said. “Through the Ambassadors, we wish to spread the message of hospitality to all young people in Hong Kong.”

The Hong Kong Student Ambassador Programme (SAP) was introduced by the former Hong Kong Tourist Association in 1968. In 1999, the programme was taken over by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, who now organises it in association with the HKTB, with the Tourism Commission as the sole sponsor this year. Since its inception, more than 3,000 students have participated in the programme.

The Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme (HKYAS) is organised by the Tourism Commission. This scheme provides training to young people and opportunities for them to take part in receiving visitors in Hong Kong. Participants are also encouraged to promote a hospitality culture within their communities.

A three-week training programme was organised in July for both groups of ambassadors to prepare them for future promotions and to increase their level of awareness and understanding of Hong Kong and its tourism industry. Activities included seminars and tours to Hong Kong’s major attractions in the 18 districts and visits to various organisations to better understand their workings.

During the HKTB’s “Stamp Rally” promotion, which began this month and continues to the end of November, visitors and local residents are being encouraged to explore the diverse attractions on offer in every district of Hong Kong.

Participants obtain a stamp or “chop” each time they visit one of the 18 featured attractions and receive rewards of T-shirts and other souvenirs. Mrs Chow said that “stamp” promotions have become highly popular with visitors in destinations worldwide. “It shows that visitors who are ‘young at heart’ are really interested in this type of activity”, she added.

“The Stamp Rally promotion encourages tourists in Hong Kong to visit various attractions, as well as collect unique mementoes of their trip. During the training programme, the Student Ambassadors and the Young Ambassadors experienced this pleasure when they visited all 18 district attractions.”

Visitors receive their Stamp Rally Passports upon check-in at any one of 54 participating hotels. Visitors and residents also can take part in the “Stamp Rally” by simply downloading a “do-it-yourself” leaflet from the City of Life Web site at www.DiscoverHongKong.com. Just one chop is enough to earn a lucky draw entry, gaining a chance to win a return visit to Hong Kong. Three chops and a City of Life: Hong Kong is it! souvenir T-shirt is theirs, courtesy of Giordano Limited.

Meanwhile, another Stamp Rally promotion especially for Hong Kong residents will be launched by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation next month, to tie in with the issuance of a new set of souvenir tickets with the theme “Touring Hong Kong’s 18 Districts”. Purchasers of the souvenir tickets will be able to collect chops in a “Touring 18 Districts” Passport. Attractive prizes will be offered to encourage participation.



The Hong Kong Tourism Board was formerly known as the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA). The change took effect from 1 April 2001 and reflects a change to the tourism body’s constitutional structure. Its primary responsibilities for marketing and promoting Hong Kong as a destination worldwide, and for providing visitors with assistance when they arrive, rem ain unchanged.