(Full text) Speech by CE at 'Hello Hong Kong' Campaign Launch Ceremony

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, John Lee, at the "Hello Hong Kong" Campaign Launch Ceremony today (Feb. 2):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends from around the world,

Hello everybody! Hello from Hong Kong! A very warm welcome to this ceremony that marks the launch of the "Hello Hong Kong" campaign.

Some three months ago at the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, I told the world that Hong Kong was back on center stage again. Today, I am happy to tell you that Hong Kong is welcoming every one of you to join us on our center stage, for Hong Kong is now seamlessly connected to the Mainland of China and the whole international world. There will be no isolation, no quarantine, and no restriction on experiencing our great wine and dine scenes, on doing business, on joining events and outings, on doing sports, on enjoying the hustle and bustle of Asia’s world city, and so much more.

Indeed, this is the perfect time for tourists, business travelers, and investors, from near and far, to come and say "Hello Hong Kong"!

The "Hello Hong Kong" campaign will focus on four major areas that will put the international spotlight on Hong Kong again.

First and foremost, we have prepared 500 000 free air tickets to welcome tourists from every part of the world to come to Hong Kong. This, ladies and gentlemen, is probably the world's biggest welcome ever!

Beyond our well-known shopping and dining paradise, we will introduce our guests to the new and magnificent Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ museum at the burgeoning West Kowloon Cultural District; a scenic ride on the latest generation of our Peak Tram and the brand new "Crystal+" Ngong Ping 360 cable car; new attractions at the Ocean Park and the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort; or quite simply, many more ways to take a deep breath and enjoy our great outdoors.

And they can also take advantage of an array of special offers, vouchers and other incentives to make their experience in Hong Kong all the more fantastic and memorable.

Second, riding on tourism qualities, strengths in financial, business and trade, as well as unrivaled connectivity to the huge Mainland market, we are busy welcoming back mega events and giant trade shows to boost our MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) sector.

To give you a preview of the next two months, we will be hosting sporting and outdoor events like the Hong Kong Marathon, the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament and the 100-kilometre Trailwalker; arts and cultural delights like the Art Basel, the Museum Summit and the Hong Kong Arts Festival; as well as top trade shows, exhibitions and competitions like the International Jewellery Show, the WOW Summit and the Vis East Moot, to name just a few.

I can assure you that more, and indeed many more, are in the pipeline to entice more high value-added overnight visitors to Hong Kong, the premier MICE destination of Asia.

Third, we are going all out to tell our many good Hong Kong stories to overseas and Mainland counterparts. Hong Kong enjoys unparalleled advantages under the unique "one country, two systems" principle. I will personally carry the promotional messages of our prowess as the world’s freest economy and China's international financial center when I visit Saudi Arabia and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) in the coming week.

Business communities and professional groups will also reach out to various parts of the world throughout the year, to tell their global counterparts the great and true stories of Hong Kong.

Fourth, we are inviting prominent guests, from business heavyweights and political dignitaries, to media chiefs and influencers, to come to Hong Kong and see for themselves the welcoming atmosphere, promising opportunities, and many exciting developments and new attractions here.

They will take home their fond experience and memories of Hong Kong and share them with their personal and business circles. Like a ripple, our compelling appeal as a metropolis that is wide open for business and leisure will continue to spread and reach different parts of the world.

Friends around the world, everyone in Hong Kong, from transport operators to business owners and performers, have been gearing up to welcome you. We can’t wait to say hello, personally, to each and every one of you.

See you in Hong Kong, and wish you all a healthy and prosperous Year of the Rabbit!

Next, let me say a few words in Putonghua to introduce to our friends in the Mainland and around the world.