Hong Kong - Hong Kong is to spend more than 19 million US dollars to try to generate enthusiasm for the Olympics ahead of next year's 2008 games in Beijing, officials confirmed Thursday.
Despite frantic excitement in mainland China, interest in the games has been 'lukewarm' in Hong Kong even though it will host the equestrian events, government officials acknowledge.
To whip up more interest in the Olympics, the Hong Kong government now wants to spend 150 million Hong Kong dollars (19.3 million US dollars) on patriotic promotions, a spokesman said.
Torch relays and Olympic-themed carnivals and street parties will be staged and banners, bunting and decorations put up in major tourist areas in the run-up to next August's games.
Hong Kong officials are understood to be concerned after there was a thin turnout for a trial equestrian event in August and believe the Olympic spirit in the city is 'not feverish enough.'
However, they expect the situation to change after the Olympic torch reaches the city of 6.9 million in May on its way to Beijing, an event that is expected to draw 200,000 to 300,000 overseas visitors.
Legislators will be asked on Friday to approve the 19.3 million US dollar spending in a vote that is expected to be a formality in the largely pro-Beijing city parliament.
The finance committee's deputy chairman, pro-democracy legislator Emily Lau, criticised the cost of promoting the Olympics and said Hong Kong should spend only 'a fraction of that amount.'
'Is it really wise to spend that much money? We have been asking for money to spend on the elderly and the poor and children and the government is very reluctant,' said Lau.
'Now suddenly the government is saying '150 million dollars? Go ahead.' But I am sure many of my colleagues are going to say it is money well spent and they are going to approve it.'
Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed government has at times struggled to generate patriotism towards China since the city reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 after 156 years of British colonial rule.
To combat the apparent indifference, China flag-raising ceremonies have been introduced and patriotic broadcasts introduced before evening news programmes featuring rousing images of the 'motherland' set to the Chinese national anthem.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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