Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Sunday urged the Hong Kong Disneyland to learn lessons from the ticketing chaos during the lunar New Year and not to repeat the incident again.

He made the remarks at a radio program of the Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Co Ltd.

The Chief Executive felt sorry for the Chinese mainland passengers who were refused for admission into Hong Kong Disneyland with tickets valid for 180 days, saying he fully understood their disappointment.

He said he and other chief officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government felt disconsolate over the incident, criticizing the theme park for not fully preparing for the lunar New Year holidays.

Tsang said that as a shareholder, the HKSAR government has put forward their views and suggestion to the Hong Kong Disneyland, hoping them not to repeat the incident again during the following "Golden Week" periods of the Chinese mainland.

Quite a number of passengers were refused to enter the Hong Kong Disneyland with tickets valid for 180 days, because the theme park's daily tickets for entrance were sold out during February 1 and February 2.

Hong Kong Disneyland, admitting it had not experience unprecedented demand, especially from the Chinese mainland, during the lunar New Year, has announced its apology and willingness to improve the ticketing arrangements.

Talking about the Egyptian coach crash incident during which 14 Hong Kong tourists were killed and another 30 were injured on Jan. 31, Tsang said he was greatly shocked by the accident.

He said the HKSAR government has done its best to help the survivors of the accident.

The chief executive praised the central government's attaching of importance to the accident and the Chinese embassy's timely help, stressing the acts reflect the implementation of "One County, Two Systems."

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)