"The new schedule, if it works, will be divided into two parts - between June 27 and July 26 and from August 25 to October 10," said Hua Jianhong, director of the mobile carnival's news center.

According to Hua, the decision was following the suit of a recent announcement which said the national soccer league season will resume in June, with the first match for a local club - Shanghai Shenhua SVA - set for June 22.

"The epidemic has been well controlled in Shanghai, and the government's measures and administrative capability give me the confidence that it may be possible to launch the fair by the end of June," said Hans Lodders, managing director of the Hong Kong-based World Carnival Ltd, which runs the event.

To be held on a 35,000-square-meter venue beside the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium in Pudong District, the company invested 70 million yuan (US$8.45 million) for the local event, originally scheduled for April 25 to June 8. However, it was put off because of SARS.

Since the mobile rides and game facilities have already been installed at the site, a working team is needed to do routine maintenance so that the machines can be ready for the launch any time, the company said.

"By June 27, the cost of delay may reach 12 million yuan (US$1.4 million), including staff expenses and maintenance fees," said Lodders, adding, however, that "public health will always be top priority."

"We will open only when the government assures it is the right and safe time," he added.

The 61-year-old Dutchman is planning to lease a 20,000-square-meter area beside the current venue to host more fun machines. "I'd like to make use of this period to do better preparation for the launch of the carnival," he said.

As the largest carnival touring around the world, the fair has visited eight countries. Shanghai will be a launch pad for its expansion on China's mainland, and it may become an annual event here.

A tour of Beijing and Guangzhou is next on the agenda.

(eastday.com May 20, 2003)