CITY OF ‘LIGHTS’: HONG KONG IS ‘LIT’

Hong Kong’s celebrated lights will be even brighter from next month for CLP Lights Up Hong Kong, the first major programme of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! tourism campaign. CLP Power Hong Kong Limited is the title sponsor.

At the press conference announcing details of the programme today (20 November), Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Chairman The Hon Mrs Selina Chow, JP, said that the HKTB is building on the city’s long-standing reputation for glittering festive displays over the Christmas and Lunar New Year period.

To reinforce Hong Kong’s image as a spectacular destination, various attractions are being repackaged in this three-month extravaganza. The CLP Lights Up Hong Kong programme is packed with perfect activities for holidaying families and should attract young travellers longing for romantic trips.

“The launch ceremony, scheduled for 9 December, comprises two sessions,” Mrs Chow said. “For the first, there will be a condensed version of a spectacular musical fountain show entitled Aqua Fantasia at the Centenary Garden, Tsim Sha Tsui East. This four-minute spectacle is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. The highlight of the second session is a five-and-a-half-minute blaze of searchlights and pyrotechnics on the waterfront near the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

“Hong Kong residents will enjoy the entire programme in comfort on Television Broadcasts Limited’s (TVB) Jade Channel between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm that night,” Mrs Chow added.

CLP Power Hong Kong Limited Managing Director Mr Michael Price said his company was honoured to be the title sponsor of this major programme, which coincides with CLP Power’s Centenary celebrations. “CLP Lights Up Hong Kong sums up perfectly CLP Power’s commitment to the people and businesses in our supply area over the past century,” he said. “This programme is especially meaningful to CLP Power as it reinforces our contribution to powering Hong Kong to a dynamic and cosmopolitan city it is today.”

CLP Power lights the homes and businesses of more than 1.9 million customers, representing a population of 5.4 million in Kowloon, the New Territories and outlying islands.

The launch ceremony for CLP Lights Up Hong Kong will be officiated by Financial Secretary Mr Antony Leung; City of Life: Hong Kong is it! Vice-Patron, Secretary for Economic Services Ms Sandra Lee, JP; the Principal Sponsor for City of Life: Hong Kong is it!, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Chairman Mr Alan F S Li; and CLP Holdings Limited Chairman, The Hon Michael D Kadoorie.

Radio Television Hong Kong will produce and broadcast the programme that will be shown during the Hong Kong SAR Government’s free airtime in Hong Kong and televised via satellite around the world.

Beginning 11 December, 62 Aqua Fantasia shows will be held at the Centenary Garden. Visitors and residents will enjoy free of charge the full seven-minute shows taking place twice nightly on 31 selected evenings. (For show times and dates, please read the attachment.)

HKTB Executive Director Ms Clara Chong said the Home Affairs Department, various District Councils and District Offices have been most supportive of this programme in adding extra lighting decorations to the districts to create a citywide festive ambience. “To present Hong Kong’s magnificent night views to visitors during CLP Lights Up Hong Kong, our trade partners have organised a wide range of special evening tours and itineraries,” Ms Chong said.

Joint Council of the Travel Industry of Hong Kong Chairman Mr Ronnie Yuen also affirmed with his support. “For the local travel trade, this is certainly a great opportunity to heat up the cool market climate and increase demand for leisure travel, particularly from the short-haul markets,” Mr Yuen said.

“The tourism industry really needs this type of major event to help promote Hong Kong tours around the world. Over the coming months, there will be four more major events for City of Life: Hong Kong is it! I sincerely hope that our trade partners will work hard on developing innovative itineraries to attract more visitors for the benefit of Hong Kong,” he remarked.

Ms Chong added that Hong Kong is also getting a chance to set a new Guinness World Record for having the world’s largest neon sign. “Sino Land Company Limited is constructing a 7,000-square-metre festive lighting display on the external walls of the Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and the Empire Centre. The existing record is held by Hong Kong for lighting celebrations in Tsing Yi in 1999, which covered an area of more than 5,000 square metres,” she said.

The HKTB has invited more than 200 members of the overseas travel trade to attend the launch so that they can see for themselves the glittering excitement of the City of Life and promote Hong Kong when they return home. Some 100 worldwide media representatives will also be in Hong Kong that night to cover the event.

The HKTB is actively promoting CLP Lights Up Hong Kong through its worldwide offices to make Hong Kong the focus of festive celebrations right through to the Chinese New Year to attract more visitors.

CLP Lights Up Hong Kong is the first major event of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign, organised by the HKTB in co-operation with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Home Affairs Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Tourism Commission, with the support of the 18 District Councils and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as Principal Sponsor.