Hong Kong's Central & Western District to be October's 'Recommendation of the Month'

An abundance of attractions and tourism related events in Hong Kong's Central & Western District will be promoted next month (October) as the "Recommendation of the Month", part of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)'s City of Life: Hong Kong is it! tourism campaign.

To mark the occasion, the Central & Western District Council is providing its full support by organising a series of activities under the theme of "Central & Western District Tourism Month".

Details of events and activities were announced today (29 September) at the Central & Western District Tourism Month Opening Carnival, held concurrently with the Chinese Herbs & Dried Seafood Festival Opening Ceremony at Chater Garden in Central.

Speaking of the possible surge in visitor arrivals during the upcoming National Day 'Golden Week', Mrs Chow, Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said the HKTB was working closely with respective Government departments and trade partners to welcome visitors from the Mainland.

"From yesterday (28 September) to 4 October, extra HKTB staff members are being deployed at Lo Wu and the China Ferry Terminal to help receive visitors," Mrs Chow said. "A wide range of tourist materials will be distributed on the spot, including the October's Attractions leaflet which lists sightseeing suggestions and different things to do in and around the Central & Western District," she added.

Director of Home Affairs (Acting), Ms Janet Wong said that Central & Western District had always been the commercial and finance centre of Hong Kong, as well as being an extremely attractive tourist area. "Besides the numerous high-rise buildings such as the 88-storey Two International Finance Centre, which will soon be completed, the District has many historical monuments and important architecture, such as the Legislative Council Building and the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware," Ms Wong said.

"The District's stunning views at night endorses Hong Kong's reputation as the 'Pearl of the Orient'," Ms Wong added. "Other famous attractions include dining areas featuring a mix of Western and Eastern cuisines, which can be found in the Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo areas, streets with shops selling antiques, dried seafood and Chinese herbs," she said.

Entertainment at today's Central & Western District Tourism Month Opening Carnival, which will continue until 1 October, included Chinese and Western singing and dancing performances, a lion and dragon dance, a float procession from the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, a puppet show and a $1 auction. There were outdoor cafés serving Asian and Western food and arts and crafts stalls. The festive ambience looks certain to reach a peak on 1 October - the National Day holiday in Hong Kong.

Today's function also marked the opening of the Chinese Herbs & Dried Seafood Festival. Organised by the Chinese Medicine Merchants Association and the Hong Kong Dried Sea Food & Grocery Merchants Association, the festival runs from 30 September to the end of October. Shops and stalls along Bonham Strand East, Bonham Strand West, Des Voeux Road West, Ko Shing Street and Wing Lok Street will be participating in the event. Special programmes include free medical consultations, Chinese tonic food recipes, cooking classes on health food and exhibitions explaining how to tell the difference between real and fake herbs.

Every weekend during October, the Hong Kong Art & Craft Merchants Association will be staging an Art and Antiques Festival. The event will feature tea appreciation and carving demonstrations, talks on Chinese antiques appreciation and Chinese musical performances. Shoppers will be able to enjoy special offers provided by participating merchants.

Visitors and residents should not miss a number of carnivals taking place next month. On 5 October, the Arts Carnival at The Peak will offer a series of Chinese art and cultural programmes at the Peak Galleria. The event will feature dance performances by the Shanghai Youth Dance Organisation and local children as well as other traditional cultural shows.

The SoHo Carnival, which will take place on 6 October at the SoHo area (Southern part of Hollywood Road), will feature cultural performances and live bands. In addition, restaurants in the area will showcase more than 30 different types of international cuisines and some of the world's finest wines.
Running from 18 October to 20 October, the Lan Kwai Fong Carnival will be an exotic party featuring Chinese and Western attractions, such as dining delicacies from all over the world, magic and music shows, street performances and exciting presentations by dancers and fire-eaters. 

Visitors can also gain an insight into the heritage attractions in the District by joining a Central & Western District Walking Tour organised by the District Council. Walking tours will take place on 20 October (English) and 27 October (Putonghua). The excursions will be led by volunteers and visit famous historical spots such as the Western Market, Man Mo Temple and the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail. Tickets for the tour (limited to a maximum of 25 people) are available from the HKTB's Visitor Information and Services Centres on a first come, first served basis.

During the Tourism Month more than 200 shops and restaurants will take part in the "Central & Western District Shopping and Dining Spree". To take advantage of special discounts on shopping and dining, customers simply need to present the HKTB's October's Attractions leaflet or the Central & Western District Shopping and Dining Spree pamphlet. Both publications are available from the HKTB's Visitor and Information Centres and Public Enquiry Services Centres of District Offices. 

To tie in with the "Recommendation of the Month", Welcome Arch will be erected by the HKTB at Chater Garden. Festive decorations will be erected in Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row to support the Art and Antiques Festival, while a decorated Chinese archway (pai lau), which will provide photographic opportunities, will be erected near the Western Market in Sheung Wan to celebrate the Chinese Herbs & Dried Seafood Festival.
Further information on other attractions in the Central & Western District can be found in October's Attractions, published by the HKTB.

Since September 2001, each of Hong Kong's 18 districts has been taking its turn to promote its attractions as the "Recommendation of the Month", part of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign. The campaign is organised by the HKTB in co-operation with the Hong Kong SAR Government's Home Affairs Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Tourism Commission, with the support of the 18 District Councils and with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as Principal Sponsor.