Sponsored by the Cathay Pacific Airways, the 2002 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade features a record number of 22 International floats and 39 performing groups, half of which are from overseas.

Of the 22 colorful floats, the Cathay Pacific Airways float " Bring the World to Hong Kong" incorporates characters of different nationalities, symbolizing world peace and cultural harmony.

The float of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), "Exhilarating Events in the City of Life!" features a dazzling floral base that expresses the color, vibrancy and dynamism of the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong.

After the busy Christmas period, Santa Clause and his elves are taking a well-earned break and has flown to Hong Kong from his home Finland to join the Chinese New Year Parade.

With three stuffed reindeer pulling his sleigh along glittering artificial snow, Santa Claus and his elves conveyed his wish of " Kung Hei Fat Choy" (good fortune) to the people of Hong Kong.

The parade, which lasted two hours, commenced at the Tamar Site, Central on the Hong Kong Island. The length of the parade route is around two kilometers.

For the first year, the float of Universal Studios Japan has brought to Hong Kong the power of Hollywood, while Hong Kong Disneyland float showed the enormous magic to the people of Hong Kong. It is estimated that over 280,000 people watched the parade along both sides of the road.

At the opening ceremony at Tamar Site, Donald Tsang, secretary for administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), said that the Lunar New Year is the most important and exciting festival for Chinese people around the globe and this Parade is one of the highlights of celebrations in Hong Kong.

"I have great pleasure in welcoming our international visitors, performing groups, and national tourism organizations to this year 's parade. You have brought a rich cultural diversity to this Asia 's World City," he said.

Initiated since 1996, the Chinese New Year Parade aims to embody Hong Kong's characteristics as a living fusion of East and West and promote Hong Kong's position as one of the leading tourist destinations in Asia.

TVB of Hong Kong will relay the event to different parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia and Australia.

Shanghai TV also broadcast the entire parade through satellite channel to more than 1,300 TV stations on the Chinese mainland.

The HKTB expected that mainland visitors will be 30 percent higher in the month of Chinese new year than in other months.

(People's Daily February 13, 2002)