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Hong Kong has been making detailed plans for launching the 1-billion-HK-dollar (US$128 million) campaign for rebuilding its image as the world center of major international activities.
Now the economic recovery group headed by Financial Secretary Antony Leung is pooling views from various walks of life for arranging a series of promotion activities to be initiated in July.
Inviting foreign stars will be one of the items of the campaign and it is reported that former US president Bill Clinton, ex-New York mayor Rudi Giuliani, American-Latino singer Richy Martin, singer Andy Williams and rock legends the Rolling Stones as well as a number of other world top level young singers are expected to appear in Hong Kong in July.
WHO halted its travel warning to Hong Kong on May 23 after SARS cases remaining in the single digit here for over half a month.
Apart from British soccer team Liverpool, Hong Kong also prepares to invite another British soccer team to show their skills.
The "Oriental Pearl" luminous pearl will be placed at the Victoria Port, making Hong Kong as bright again.
Airport Authority announced a multi-US$-million revitalization package Sunday under Operation SkyFit to stimulate traffic and bring traveler.
Victor Fung, its chairman, said the package includes eight initiatives ranging from programs to encourage airlines to reinstate canceled flights with huge discount on landing charges, to lucky draws with a car as prize for the luckiest.
A higher percentage of discount will be offered when a flight resumes, that may go up to 50 percent, he said.
Another of the measures is to call on all owners of Rolls Royce in Hong Kong to offer their precious cars for the government to use one day for greeting distinguished foreign guests. The authority plans to borrow at least 30 Rolls Royce cars, with the first offer already coming in from Fung himself.
Hong Kong Tourism Board has prepared "tourist coupon" for overseas tourists. If the plan gets approval, each overseas tourist to Hong Kong is to obtain a 300-HK-dollar (US$38.5) coupon for purchasing goods in Hong Kong.
The economy recovery group will also send healthcare workers and medical experts to promote Hong Kong as a safer place.
Between July and August, large-size food festivals and book fairs will be arranged for exhibiting Hong Kong's vitality.
Hong Kong also plans to invite CEOs of the world-famous transnationals to Hong Kong to attend a business meeting.
To tell the world the true situation in Hong Kong, a number of foreign businessmen have promised to send e-mails to their friends and colleagues.
"I'll tell my overseas friends, business associates and colleagues the situation in Hong Kong is not bad and it's time to consider coming here to do business and invest," said James Thompson, president of the US Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
He made the remarks at the initiating ceremony of worldwide Campaign of Sending 100,000 e-mails and e-cards to brighten Hong Kong.
Thompson said: "As a resident in Hong Kong, I am really proud of it."
Brighten Hong Kong campaign is jointly sponsored by the Better Hong Kong Foundation, the Internet Professionals Association (iProA), the Outstanding Young Persons' Association and the World Trade Centers Association.
This campaign will optimize the use of www.brightenhk.org.hk portal to give the world accurate and positive information about Hong Kong.
President of iProA and convener of the campaign Elizabeth Quat said: "We expect 100,000 e-cards about Hong Kong's work against SARS would be sent out in the first two weeks."
Hong Kong Trade Development Council already sent 400,000 e- mails last week to its European and US customers on the latest development of Hong Kong's SARS control.
(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2003)
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