Creating New Tourism Opportunities

Financial Secretary Paul Chan

"Moana: A Homecoming Celebration" is just the beginning of a series of new attractions under the multi-year expansion and development plan of Hong Kong Disneyland.

The plan is being jointly funded by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Disney, and it will fuel the expansion of the park's world-class entertainment offerings right through to 2023.

That's marvellous news for park visitors, for Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and, no less, for the Hong Kong economy. Enhancing our entertainment attractions and offerings can only attract more tourists to Hong Kong from all over the world.

The resort, of course, has done a good job of that since its opening back in 2005, welcoming more than 70 million visitors from all over the world.

Boosting Disneyland's appeal through new attractions and offerings is, and will continue to be, a high priority.

It's a strategy that's working well. Over the past two years, Star Wars and Iron Man have turned into resident superheroes, capturing the imagination of our park visitors. And I have no doubt that the inspired musical theatre, and visual storytelling, of Moana will do very much the same - captivate the world, right here at Hong Kong Disneyland.

And there's more magic on the way. Next year, Ant Man and the Wasp will set up home at the park - here to take on all villains in a thrilling, non-stop adventure.

Hong Kong, I should add, is also up to some pretty amazing stuff these days.

This year alone, two world-class infrastructure developments near the park are slated to open. I'm talking about the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

All that state-of-the-art connectivity between Hong Kong and the Mainland can only boost the flow of business people, tourists and superheroes, creating unprecedented opportunities for Disney.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan gave these remarks at the Hong Kong Disneyland Welcome Party for "Moana: A Homecoming Celebration" on May 24.