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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
attracted not only overseas visitors but also hundreds of thousands of local residents.
Furthermore, promoting international events in Hong Kong or encouraging local bodies and organizations to hold cultural, sport and entertainment activities of the international level would enhance the standards of the various types of local activities. In the long run, it would be conducive to the development of local culture, entertainment and arts. International events would also help foster Hong Kong's position as the centre of international events and Hong Kong's international status.
It is generally known that the cultural, sport and entertainment activities held by the Provisional Urban Council are diversified in nature. A lot of the activities solely or jointly sponsored by the Council are of a high international standard and are therefore quite attractive to overseas visitors. These activities play a very important part in promoting the tourism of Hong Kong. If the international activities held solely or jointly by the Council were properly publicized abroad, more visitors would be attracted to Hong Kong, which would eventually stimulate the consumption growth and retail business in Hong Kong.
It is understood that most of the large venues for performance or games directly managed by the Council are popular places for international events. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the City Hall, the Hong Kong Coliseum, the Hong Kong Stadium, and even the Kowloon Park Swimming Complex and the various museums are all ideal venues for major international cultural, sport and entertainment activities, even if the pitch of the Hong Kong Stadium is dug up and the Cultural Centre is windowless. These places are all very popular. Hence, it is imperative that these venues be made available for the promotion of major international events in Hong Kong.
A Member has raised the point that the URBTIX is at present the main ticketing system in Hong Kong. It is also imperative that proper arrangements be made to ensure that overseas visitors get their admission tickets for the relevant international events before coming to Hong Kong.
Another Member has mentioned that according to a visitor survey of the HKTA, 15% of the visitors were interested in taking part in activities during their stay in Hong Kong. Accordingly, active promotion of the 'Spotlight Hong Kong-Towards the Millennium' Programme in the next five years should be able to attract more visitors, thereby stimulating the development of the tourist industry and overall economy of Hong Kong.
Mr. Chairman, against this background, I believe there is a basis on which the Council and the HKTA should work hand in hand to promote major international events. In fact, as Mr. PAO has pointed out, both parties have the experience of cooperation in the past years in individual events and it is likely that more contribution will be made in the coming five years towards active
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