The Hong Kong Tourism Board says it welcomes the various tourism-related proposals announced by the Financial Secretary John C Tsang in his Budget Speech on February 27.

HKTB Chairman The Hon James Tien said, "As HKTB Chairman, I've been advocating the inclusion of sites strictly for hotel use in the Application List. I'm very pleased that the Government has accepted our proposal, and plans to include 10 sites 'restricted to hotel use' in the 2008-09 Application List. This will encourage developers to build more hotels of different types. Given the strong demand for medium- to high-tariff hotel accommodation in recent years, we hope the Government would earmark sites in the urban or commercial districts for hotel development. We also hope that the Government would ensure reasonable level of the land premium for the hotel sites, which will certainly add on to the positive impact brought by the initiative.

Tien says Hong Kong has proposed to allocate HK$30 million of additional funding for the HKTB to promote the convention and exhibition business in 2008 and 2009. The proposal will help sharpen Hong Kong's edge in the face of intensified competition from neighbouring destinations, and consolidate the city's position as an international convention, exhibition and tourism capital.

"The HKTB will make use of the additional funding to strengthen our promotions overseas. Our initiatives include providing event organizers with one-stop professional support services, such as assistance in bidding for major events, promotion to draw participation and measures to enhance participants' experience of Hong Kong." Tien added. "We will also co-operate closely with the economic and trade offices of the SAR Government, as well as Trade Development Council's overseas offices, to achieve greater synergy in attracting more events to be hosted in Hong Kong."