Disneyland parks in Hong Kong, Shanghai can be complementary: official

HONG KONG, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The planned Shanghai Disneyland theme park and the existing Hong Kong Disneyland can be complementary, a senior official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Wednesday.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau said the two parks could even cooperate with each other in the future to tap the Chinese market.

The Chinese economy is growing fast and the Chinese market, with its huge potential, will be big enough to sustain two Disneyland theme parks, she said, adding that the tourist industry in Hong Kong can cooperate with businesses in the region to develop multi-destination products.

The Shanghai municipal government announced on Wednesday that the Shanghai Disneyland project has been approved by authorities in late October.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Managing Director Andrew Kam said the announcement marked "another significant step for Disney" in China, an important and dynamic market.

"We at Hong Kong Disneyland are focused on getting our exciting project underway as soon as possible," he said, referring to an expansion project on Hong Kong Disneyland.

Margaret Fong, commissioner for tourism, said she was confident that the Hong Kong Disneyland will remain attractive and competitive, adding that the Hong Kong park attracts visitors from not only mainland but also southeast Asia and other places.

Local business people and visitors said they expected the desire for the Chinese mainland visitors to visit Hong Kong Disneyland to be reduced but the Hong Kong park, with some unique attractions, should remain attractive to visitors from nearby.