The program also includes a guided Cantonese opera tour, a series of architectural and heritage walks, a guided tour of "the Hong Kong Story" at the Hong Kong Museum of History and a ride at the Victoria Harbor on board the Duk Ling, a real Chinese junk.

These classes and trips, which are offered to more than 500 tourists a week, are free of charge, although a nominal entrance fee is required for talks involving museum visits.

Tourists can book the classes on the website or at HKTB Visitor Information & Services Centers at Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong International Airport, on a first come, first served basis.

The classes are given by specialists in a certain area, like William K.M. Chak, an antique merchant and collector with nearly 30 years of experience, and Henry Cheng, who has served as president of the Gemological Association of Hong Kong.

Members of Hong Kong Institute of Architects volunteer to be guides in the Architecture Tour while Alex Yu, a practitioner of feng shui who has taught the discipline to thousands of students for more than 20 years, helps visitors unravel the mysteries of the ancient Chinese practice of positioning objects and buildings in harmony with nature to ensure good fortune.

Mason Hung, senior manager of HKTB's product development, said the program is purely aimed to promote the understanding of Chinese culture and the lecturers are not allowed to make use of the classes to promote the sale of any products or services.

Hung also said that this program will run without a deadline and the varieties of the classes may change according to the feedback, adding that tourists can get a booklet about the timetable and content of the program at the airport or hotels

The program, launched in late 2000, was originally tailored to appeal to the US and Canadian long-haul tourist markets. Now the HKTB has decided to promote it in all major markets with the positive feedback on the program.

Michiyou Kurosawa from Japan and her New Zealand e-mail friend Julie Simpson, who participated in the Chinese Clothing Appreciation Class Wednesday, said this program is a very interesting part of their visit in Hong Kong.

"Chinese clothing is very beautiful and comfortable," they said after listening to the class given at the Blanc de Chine shop, which is favored by many celebrities including Zhang Ziyi, who starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan.

"Tourists may think they know a great deal about Hong Kong, but there is more to discover than they ever realized. We want to provide something new, fascinating and a little unexpected for our visitors, and giver them the chance to explore Hong Kong's unique way of life for themselves," said Clara Chong, executive director of the HKTB.

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2002)