I am angered with the way the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and CLP Power organised the opening event of 'CLP lights up Hong Hong', on December 9. This much-hyped celebration turned out to be an exclusive event, which utterly disregarded the rights of the public who had turned out to appreciate the spectacle. Along with hundreds of people trying to watch the fireworks and skyline lights display on the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, I was denied the opportunity to watch the show properly. Have you heard of a fireworks display to which the public were not invited? The entire promenade - both upper and lower sections - and the space between the water and the Cultural Centre and Art Museum, were blocked off. Isn't this public space? This was done for a special party held on top of the promenade, hosted by the HKTB, that catered to a select group of around 150 foreign tourism officials. Hundreds of people, including many families with young, excited children, turned out to watch what they had heard would be a wonderful show of fireworks and light displays. But for these residents there was nowhere on the promenade to watch. I suppose we just weren't important enough to merit a harbour view. In a 'Hong Kong Tourism Board Special Supplement', published in the South China Morning Post on December 7, a promotional piece for the event said, 'Hong Kong residents can enjoy the fun without leaving home.' Was this a joke? What fun is it to experience a fireworks display and see the skyline light up on a small television screen? I understand the need to cater to the travel and tourism industries to help give Hong Kong a boost. But is it necessary to deny Hong Kong's residents the joys of their own city in the process? Is this the message the HKTB wants to send overseas, that people are welcome in Hong Kong, City of Life, but don't mind the locals, they just live here? NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
