Hong Kong Disneyland will be expanded by adding new attractions and improving services each year, Commissioner for Tourism Eva Cheng said Saturday.

 

Speaking on a radio talk show Saturday, Cheng said that, according to the agreement between the government and the Walt Disney Company, the theme park project's phase one site covers 126 hectares of land on Penny's Bay. The park itself now has an area of 70 hectares.

 

She said similar to Disneyland parks in Tokyo and the US, HK Disneyland build new facilities each year, and the theme park will help promote family tourism.

 

On service quality, Cheng noted improvement is being made to suit the local culture. Transport and crowd-control measures are also in place to ensure the theme park's smooth operation.

 

She expected the number of Chinese mainland visitors coming to Hong Kong will reach the peak in early October, with most of them to stay in the city for three days. With the opening of the Tung Chung cable car and Hong Kong Wetland Park next year, Cheng said the city's tourism facilities will be more diversified.

 

The first weekend (Saturday and Sunday) after the formal opening of Hong Kong Disneyland witnesses the theme park open half an hour earlier than the schedule to greet the hundreds of passengers.

 

Passengers have to wait about 20 to 40 minutes for each game and some outdoor facilities suspended operation for a while in the afternoon when a heavy rain hit the city.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2005)