Bangkok--Nov 28--Francom Asia
Over a million visitors are expected from home and abroad to experience the wintry wonders of Hong Kong's amazing "EuroChristmas".
Santa will not believe his eyes, but a "White Christmas" is finally coming to Hong Kong! Children will be playing in snow for the first time in their lives, enjoying the thrills and spills of toboggan rides, watching a breath-taking ice show by some of the world's top skaters, and even experiencing a chilly snow blizzard!
The EuroChristmas inaugural event, from December 16, 2000 to January 2, 2001, is organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government, European consuls and trade bodies, together with the travel and tourism industry. Admission will be free to the public and open daily from noon to 10 pm - and even later on public holidays.
Snow Slopes, Ski-Jumping, Santa and More
This exciting new initiative, which is intended to become an annual attraction, is being staged both outside and inside the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
Inside the convention complex, a "winter snowscape" created by the most advanced snowmaking technology will be the backdrop to a spectacular Coca-Cola Winter Magic theme park attraction. With the temperature-controlled 10 tonnes of snow a day, it will feature snow slopes for toboggan rides, a crystallised glacier version of the North Pole, a playground where youngsters can throw real snowballs; a "Santa Village" and an "Ice Castle."
Also inside the complex, 18 of the world's top professional ice skaters will star in "Heineken Stars on Ice," an action-packed production on 3,000 square feet of real shimmering ice - created by giant refrigerators.
The picturesque atmosphere of a European "Winter Wonderland" will be recreated in Hong Kong with spectacular Christmas decorations, special lighting and simulated snow effects, including a "winter snowscape" on the glass wall of the Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Visitors will be able to stroll through reproductions of historic European streets and eat traditional Christmas food and drinks. Seasonal produce, toys and gifts from all across Europe will be on sale in around 100 rustic wooden chalets lining the waterfront area. Perhaps most importantly, the "real Santa Claus" will be flying in with his sleigh all the way from the Arctic Circle in Finland to greet all the children.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Tourist Association said, "This prestigious event will make Hong Kong 'Asia's Christmas Hub'. It could become Hong Kong's most important annual signature event."
Hong Kong's EuroChristmas, sponsored principally by Paciific Century CyberWorks, is being staged mainly for families, with childrens' charities taking a prominent role. The main event is costing HK$20 million to stage, making it the biggest and most expensive outside production ever staged in Hong Kong.
On the Internet, EuroChristmas has its own Website: http://www.hkeurochristmas.com.
For more details, please contact your travel agent.
For more press information, please contact:
Chantana Hinkaew/Wandee Lerdsupongkij
HKTA Press Information Office
C/o Francom Asia
Tel 233 4338or 39
Fax 236 8030
Email: [email protected] End.
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