Tourist body gives $13m in loans for big-name shows
More than $13 million will be loaned to put 1960s film star Chan Po-chu on stage and bring Faberge eggs and singer Celine Dion to Hong Kong.
Using cash from its $100 million International Events Fund, the Hong Kong Tourist Association will provide the up-front money for six concerts, exhibitions and sports competitions it hopes will attract overseas visitors.
A $4 million loan is being given to organisers of January's Celine Dion concert at Kai Tak.
The same amount is offered to planners of the Sentimental Journey, due to play at the Academy for Performing Arts' Lyric Theatre in March and April. The production will see veteran film actress Chan Po-chu make her stage debut.
A $4 million loan will also fund a Treasures of the Kremlin exhibition at the Museum of History next summer which will include five of the Easter eggs created for tsars by jeweller Faberge.
Hong Kong's first Formula One powerboat race, scheduled for mid-November next year at Tolo Harbour, has won a $1 million loan, while $250,000 will go to an action sports exposition next October at the Tamar site.
A further $200,000 will go to this month's Action Asia Challenge, a new adventure sports competition.
The loans announced yesterday, all of which will charge interest, are expected to be the first of about 50 events aimed at luring tourists.
