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Thursday, July 22, 2004 |
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Hong Kong Disneyland Welcomes Jacky Cheung As Official Spokesperson
Theme Park Continues Marketing and Publicity Push
HONG KONG (July 22, 2004) - In a warm ceremony today, Hong Kong Disneyland officially welcomed famed entertainer Jacky Cheung into the Disneyland family, naming the celebrity the official Spokesperson for the Theme Park. As Spokesperson, Cheung will bring the magic of Disneyland Parks and Disney stories to the people of Hong Kong and Asia.
At the ceremony, Hong Kong Disneyland Group Managing Director Don Robinson praised Cheung in an emotional address. "Jacky Cheung is a household name in Hong Kong and across Asia. He is a true gentleman, a man who has brought happiness to millions through his remarkable music, his outstanding film acting, his exceptional theatrical performances, and, most of all, through his generous spirit, his devotion to family and his many works for charity. He stands for everything that makes Disney so special - its unique brand of quality entertainment, its family values and its ability to touch people all over the world."
At the same event, Hong Kong Disneyland Vice President Marketing and Sales Roy Tan Hardy explained the Spokesperson's role and its importance to Hong Kong Disneyland. "Throughout Disney's history, from Walt Disney to current executives, the role of Spokesperson has been vital to what our company stands for -- as the public face for our unique brand of family entertainment. Hong Kong Disneyland's Spokesperson will be especially important. He will help us connect with new audiences in Asia - a new part of the world for Disneyland -- by introducing our values and heritage, the magic of Disneyland and the worlds of fun, fantasy and adventure inside our Theme Park."
The audience was treated to a taste of this magic at the ceremony, when the classic Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy took the stage with Cheung to welcome him into the fun-filled Disney family. Together, Cheung, Mickey and Minnie opened a Walt Disney storybook, setting off a pyrotechnics display and dazzling the crowd. Opening the storybook granted Cheung the power of pixie dust -- or the ability to enter Disneyland's past and to soar through its worlds of fantasy and imagination, to bring its magic, heritage and the power of storytelling to Hong Kong and Asia. Cheung then donned a pair of Mickey ears, officially beginning his role as Spokesperson, and promising to bring Disney magic to Asia, promote Hong Kong Disneyland as a top family attraction in Asia, and represent the Park to the rest of the world.
"I have always hoped that Hong Kong will become better and better," Cheung said. "When Disney announced that it would open a Theme Park here in Hong Kong, I was indeed excited - this was something that we all very much look forward to. It is a great honor to be Hong Kong Disneyland's Spokesperson and I am thrilled to be a part of the Disney family, especially now that I have a child. I really hope that my family will have more fun places to visit, and more memorable experiences together. As Disney's first flagship theme park in China, I wish Hong Kong Disneyland the greatest success."
Hong Kong Disneyland's Spokesperson announcement comes on the heels of the Park's announcement of its collaboration with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), which kicked off its marketing and publicity efforts. According to Roy Tan Hardy, Cheung will take part in a number of large-scale marketing events organized by Hong Kong Disneyland in the near future, beginning by hosting the flagship program of the TVB collaboration, "Magical World of Disneyland", which will air on TVB Jade starting from July 31.
On the TV program, Cheung will bring classic Disney movies to families in Hong Kong and South China and will take the audience on a tour of Disney's history through the eyes of Walt Disney in the show's introduction. Slated for 2004 are the animated films "Toy Story", on July 31, "Dinosaur", on September 25, "Monsters, Inc.", on October 23, and "Beauty and the Beast" on December 25.
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About Hong Kong Disneyland
The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in November 1999 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. With the completion of reclamation for Hong Kong Disneyland Phase I by the Hong Kong SAR Government, Disney began construction in January 2003 with the project scheduled to open in late 2005/ early 2006. The opening day program for Hong Kong Disneyland will include a Disneyland-style theme park and two hotels. The Phase I build-out includes a projected 10 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and an area for retail, dining and entertainment. The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening (both Disney and other employment) growing to 36,000 once the first park reaches build-out. The Hong Kong SAR Government estimated that the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period.
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