Mickey, Cheung get ready to spread a little magic

Mickey, Cheung get ready to spread a little magic

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post/Hong Kong

Christmas came early to Hong Kong and its neighboring countries
this year.

Even with his trademark red shorts, Mickey Mouse certainly is
not Santa Claus, but during its 60 years in entertainment
business, the Disneyland icon has succeeded in restoring the
child in all.

At least 600 journalists from all over the world have gathered
at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on Lantau island, just 15
minutes' drive from the territory's international airport, as
celebrities featured in Walt Disney productions began arriving on
Saturday to witness the grand opening of the fifth Disney theme
park on Monday.

In addition, the Monday event is a landmark one that coincides
with the 50th anniversary of the birth of Disneyland in Anaheim,
California -- from which the Hong Kong park draws its design.

Hong Kong Disneyland is the first theme park to open in China,
and is a major effort in Hong Kong's aim to gain acclaim as a
gateway to Asia for businesspeople and holidaying families, said
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region financial secretary Henry
Tang.

"We're at the seventh top now... The theme park presents a
unique opportunity for Hong Kong to reposition itself as a
premier destination for family tourists," he said in a media
briefing on Saturday.

The territory's Commissioner for Tourism, Eva Cheng, added
that an estimated 23.4 million visitors were expected this year
and 27 million in 2006 as more theme parks and tourist
attractions were on the way to support the country's global
campaign, 2006 Discover Hong Kong.

With 21.8 million visitors last year, Hong Kong made some
US$11.8 billion in tourism alone.

The first phase of the park and two Disney-themed hotels
occupies about 126 hectares and overlooks rolling hills on one
side and the South China Sea on the other. The Hong Kong
government and the Walt Disney Company shared the park's
development cost of $1.8 billion; the government holds 57 percent
of shares in the park, and Disney 43 percent.

Despite criticism from local media over the lack of Chinese
elements in the park and an investigation into alleged food
poisoning cases during a sneak-peek for the public last week,
both the government and park management assured improved
services.

"Hong Kong Disneyland is expected to attract over 5 million
visitors. ...One-third from overseas, one-third from the Mainland
and the remaining visitors are Hong Kong residents," Tang said.

With Disney tour packages reportedly nearly fully booked until
New Year's Day, all critics must sit back, as the so-called
greatest show in Asia is to go on.