The 2007 Hong Kong Arts Festival opened with Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen dotting the eyes of a dragon at a ceremony in the Cultural Centre. However, all eyes were also on executive director Tisa Ho. In her first season as boss, the festival has seen unprecedented advance ticket sales. More than 90 per cent of the seats for all shows were sold before the opening. But ever the saleswoman, she pointed out good seats were still available. 'Often tickets are returned from people who have bought them and can't make it,' she said. 'Just contact us and if anybody has returned tickets, we'll try to get people in.' Still, no matter how smooth everything appears, Ho says last- minute hiccups are common. 'The day before [the performing group] Kunqu was supposed to take off, fog in Beijing delayed their flight for eight hours. There are always things you have to deal with. There are several venues we work in, but it's not easy to find alternative spaces and I wish there were more.' For festival inquires, call 2824 2430.