Stars Koo, Hsuan promote HK in video campaign

Hong Kong star actor Louis Koo Tin-lok and actress Jessica Hester Hsuan were featured in the latest Tourism Board promotional videos of the hospitality campaign.

The new TV promotion reprised a classic tagline of a TV advertisement in 2002 in which renowned actor and singer Andy Lau Tak-wah said: "Such service attitude is not good enough these days."

The advertisement themed "Let's Go the Extra Mile" covers three sectors including catering, retail and transport. The full video will be launched next week, with the hope that it will encourage citizens and merchants in Hong Kong to show hospitality.

In a teaser video uploaded on various social media platforms and sent to key opinion leaders, the advertisement is "a story within another" in which young actors Tony Wu Tsz-tung, Hins Ng Siu-hin and actresses Hazel Lam Hei-tung and Hillary Lau Pui-hang, reinterpreted Lau's classic tagline in their own style before Husan - who plays the director. But Husan is not satisfied with the young actors and actresses' performance until a mysterious man, whose view from the back looks like Koo, walks onto the set.

Local actress Stephy Tang Lai-yan and actor Kevin Chu Kam-yin also featured in the new TV ads. They will turn into a cha chan teng waiter and diner, sneaker salesman and client, and a taxi driver and passenger, to show the professional-quality of tourism services in the SAR. Some 120 trade representatives from tourism-related sectors also watched the new TV promotion on Wednesday and gave positive reviews.

To attract more tourists, the board said it will enhance promotions in different markets including the Middle Eastern and Muslim markets.

By doing that, the board will continue to lead the local travel trade to participate in major travel fairs in the Middle East, as well as maintain a close partnership with the trade sector there. It will also promote the city's high-end tourism experiences and itineraries through its new luxury travel guide "Travel in Luxe Hong Kong," as well as organize "familiarization trips" for Middle Eastern travelers.

The board will also organize and support six mega events in the second half of this year to early next year, including the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races on June 15 and 16, Hong Kong Cyclothon on October 13, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival from October 23 to 27, Hong Kong WinterFest from November 22 to January 1 next year, the New Year countdown celebrations from December 31 to January 1 next year, as well as the Hong Kong International Chinese New Year night parade on January 29 - the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The S2O Hong Kong Songkran Music Festival will be held at the Central Harbourfront Event Space on June 8 and 9 this year, while the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance will return during the Mid-Autumn Festival in September. The Hong Kong Tennis Open 2024 will be held between October 28 and November 3, while SmartCon 2024 is scheduled for October 30 and 31.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com