Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, at the opening ceremony of "Hong Kong - Live in Bangkok" in Thailand, today (October 6):
Mr Peter Lam (Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board), Mr Anthony Lau (Executive Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to join you here in this exciting city of Bangkok, and I am honoured to have this opportunity to meet so many industry partners and media friends here.
Thailand and Hong Kong enjoy a close relationship in many different areas. We have long been business partners, and our partnership keeps growing from strength to strength. In the context of tourism, Thailand is definitely a very popular destination for Hong Kong people. Needless to say, we extend our warmest welcome to Thai visitors. In 2015, we received 529,400 visitors from Thailand. In the first seven months of this year, we saw an encouraging growth of more than 25% in visitor arrivals from Thailand.
I’m therefore very delighted to see this "Hong Kong Live in Bangkok" promotion in place to keep the momentum going. Indeed, our city offers diverse travel experiences to all visitors. Hong Kong is a dynamic city of contrast and colour. We are a bustling metropolis and a haven for natural beauty, a city where rich Chinese tradition coexists with global trends, and a place where the old and modern mix in harmony. It is perfect for visitors who quest for a diversity of unique travel experiences including local culture, beautiful greenery, good food and enjoyable shopping at just one compact destination, which is less than two hours away from Thailand.
The Hong Kong SAR Government continues to support the enhancement and development of attractions and different tourism products to make Hong Kong even more appealing to visitors. Among others, the Hong Kong Disneyland and the Ocean Park, are continuously putting on new faces. A new themed area based on "Marvel’s Iron Man" franchise and a new hotel with a theme dedicated to the spirit of exploration will be opened in the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort later this year and next year respectively. The Ocean Park is also developing an all-weather indoor cum outdoor waterpark which is expected to be completed in 2018.
In the coming few days, you will enjoy a glimpse of Hong Kong at this "Live in Bangkok" promotion. Our trade partners participating in this exhibition will showcase Hong Kong's unique features in different aspects.
I urge all of you to come to Hong Kong to get a first-hand taste of it, and experience the charm and hospitality of our city. A lot of mega events are on the offering, such as the Formula E race, Hong Kong Triathlon and Harbour Race. The Hong Kong Tourism Board will also stage the annual Wine and Dine Festival, and the list goes on.
On this note, may I thank the Hong Kong Tourism Board for their effort and contribution in promoting Hong Kong as a world-class tourist destination. My gratitude also goes to other participating partners for their support. May I wish this promotion a great success and I hope to see you soon in Hong Kong!
Thank you.
Ends/Thursday, Oct 06, 2016