Bangkok--29 Sep--Francom Asia
Thirty Hong Kong residents from different backgrounds but with the same passion for this city were selected from over 300 applicants to participate in the “Hong Kong Pals” programme organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). Having completed three months of training, they are officially appointed today by HKTB Chairman Mr James Tien at a crowning ceremony.
Starting from October 2009, these Hong Kong Pals will join the HKTB in promoting Hong Kong to in-town visitors. They will take turns to offer services at the HKTB Visitor Centres in Tsim Sha Tsui and The Peak, introducing to visitors Hong Kong’s way of life and culture, as well as making travel recommendations based on their own favourite sites and activities.
HKTB Chairman Mr James Tien said: “The HKTB has arranged for our Hong Kong Pals to provide services at The Peak and Tsim Sha Tsui, two of the city’s must-visit tourist attractions. Through their services, we hope that visitors will be able to explore Hong Kong’s local culture and lifestyles in a fresh new way while they sightsee, dine and shop. The HKTB is grateful for the support from all our participants, instructors, the Agency for Volunteer Service and relevant institutions that have enabled our programme to run smoothly.
“Given the great public support we received for the programme, we are considering expanding the project’s scope to invite more enthusiastic residents to contribute and promote tourism in Hong Kong with us in the coming year,” continued Mr Tien.
In May 2009, the HKTB recruited the participants of the “Hong Kong Pals” programme through the Agency for Volunteer Service. After two rounds of interviews, 30 Hong Kong Pals were selected by the HKTB from over 300 applicants. In order to ease the “Hong Kong Pals” into their new role, the HKTB arranged for them approximately 60 hours of training, which covered information about Hong Kong’s living culture as well as other tourism-related areas. Local specialists involved in the training programme include Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Department of History, The Chinese University Hong Kong, Dr Joseph Ting; fashion designer Mr William Tang; international food and wine critic Mr William Mark; famous photographer Mr Water Poon; cross-media artist Craig Au Yeung; ecologist Mr Samson So and founder of the China Polar Museum Foundation, Dr Rebecca Lee.