Recession-hit Hong Kong will ring in the millennium frugally, with a midnight horse race, a dragon dance and a light and sound extravaganza - mostly paid for by private donors. Happy Valley will host the celebrations, and there will be a joint live broadcast of countdown celebrations by several television stations in Asia and an arts festival. However, Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Stephen Ng Chin-ming admitted the celebration budget was small compared to Europe or the United States. 'Even if we had the money, we shouldn't waste it. But since we really don't have the money, we had to be practical and get companies to help out,' Mr Ng said. 'But our festivities will be meaningful and exciting. Many countries are just having beer-drinking parties on the streets.' The Government will shell out no more than $10 million for the festivities. In comparison, just the handover float parade, which was cancelled because of the rain, cost $20 million. Most of the key millennium activities will be paid for by the private sector. Owners of major buildings marking the skyline on both sides of the harbour will be asked to light up. At midnight on New Year's Eve, churches and temples, including Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, will sound drums and bells to 'ring in' 2000. People will have to pay - most probably at a discount - to see a few key attractions, including the Canadian acrobatic group Cirque du Soleil; an equestrian performance by the French National Riding School and a United States aircraft exhibition never before shown in Asia. Officials said three long-term projects were planned to mark the new millennium in a meaningful and lasting way. They are: Developing Mai Po and inner Deep Bay into an international wetland park that will preserve the environment and draw tourists; Establishing a world-class culinary academy that will offer training in Chinese cuisine; Completion of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin to teach and preserve Hong Kong's heritage. The $10 million budget does not include costs of the three projects. Officials said the festivities were not inferior to the SAR's neighbours and rejected criticism they were making plans too late. 'I'm confident . . . we'll have one of the best celebrations in the world,' Secretary for Home Affairs David Lan Hon-tsung said.
