XN000022-1994-12-09 — Page 10

- 8

HK emerges as Asia's leading tourism destination

Hong Kong's emergence as Asia's leading tourism destination is the product of the close co-operation and strong partnership which have developed among the Government, the Hong Kong Tourist Association and various sectors of the industry, the Financial Secretary, Sir Hamish Macleod, said.

Addressing the Hong Kong Hotels Association Gala Dinner this (Friday) evening, Sir Hamish said so far as the pace and direction of tourism development was concerned, the Government believed in general that the private sector should be left to make these decisions.

"At the same time we have provided consistent support to the industry through direct subventions to the Hong Kong Tourist Association, and through an on-going programme of expenditure at Kai Tak Airport to keep it operating at optimum efficiency," he added.

He noted that the territory was making huge investments in a new airport and related transport infrastructure, which would add to Hong Kong's attraction as a major tourist centre.

He was confident that the Tsing Ma and Kap Shui Mun Bridges would become a new tourist attraction themselves.

Turning to hotels, Sir Hamish said the Government was alert to the concerns about the possibility of hotel rooms shortage.

He pointed out that a total of about 4 200 new rooms would be provided during the next four years alone through the construction of new hotels and extension of existing ones.

The incorporation of specific requirements for hotel developments by the Government in a number of Comprehensive Development Areas on the Central and Western Kowloon Reclamation was expected to produce an additional 4,700 hotel rooms, he said.

A consultancy study commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourist Association would assess whether the provision of hotel accommodation was likely to be sufficient to meet the projected growth in demand.

The Government hoped to receive some initial results from the consultants' work early in the new year, Sir Hamish said.

End/Friday, December 9, 1994

Page 10Page 11