MUMBAI: Residents and visitors to Hong Kong will soon be able to interact with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

Disney and the Hong Kong Sar Government have announced that Hong Kong Disneyland will welcome its first guests on 12 September, 2005. As had been earlier reported by indiantelevision.com Disney will launch two channels in India next month.

The theme park and resort, located on Lantau Island, will be Disney's first theme park in China. Visitors will be able to experience Broadway-style shows, signature Disney attractions, fireworks and parades.

Hong Kong Disneyland Group MD Don Robinson said, "Over the past four years since the announcement of this project, we have been working closely with the Hong Kong SAR Government to make Hong Kong Disneyland a success. We are grateful for their tremendous support in helping us deliver the magic even earlier than expected".

Hong Kong estimates that this year's tourist arrivals will cross 21 million. This marks an increase of 37 per cent over last year. The Disneyland project has already created 11,400 jobs during construction. Another 18,000 jobs are expected to be created in phases by opening. In the first 40 years after opening, Hong Kong Disneyland is forecast to bring about a huge economic benefit of $148 billion to Hong Kong as a whole.

Families visiting the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will journey through three themed lands, a Main Street USA and two Disney-style hotels. Two attractions expected to enthrall thousands of guests on a daily basis are Jungle River Cruise and Festivals of the Lion King.

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