The release of the Tourism Commission's ActionProgramme this June entitled, "Hong Kong Tourism -- Expanding the Horizons," marks a milestone in the development of Hong Kong's tourism industry.

Among the listed projects underway is the International Wetland Park in the Mai Po Marshes. Phase I of the park is expected to be completed by the end of this year, while work for the rest of the park is scheduled to be completed by 2004 at a cost of HK$500 million, Assistant Tourism Commissioner Erika Hui (right) said.

The adventurous plan to create a Fisherman's Wharf at Aberdeen is part of the office's plans to take advantage of Hong Kong's unique harbours, but the initial phase of the study concluded that the original site was not the best option.

"Rather than just focusing on the Fisherman's Wharf as a single facility, we want to look at the tourism potential of the whole Aberdeen area: how that facility should interface with Ocean Park, the floating Jumbo Restaurant and other possible tourism developments," she said.

"It does seem to us to make a lot of sense given Aberdeen's fishing port history that we should really be looking at some sort of cluster over that part of the island," Mrs Hui said.

The idea of running a cable car from Aberdeen up the Peak is also being looked into, as well as development of the lowland areas of Ocean Park.

Plans to spruce up the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade to include soft landscaping, foreshore improvements and open-air cafes are among the commission's short-term strategies. But Mrs Hui concedes that improving the water quality in the harbour, as well as Aberdeen Harbour, will have to go in parallel with development programmes if they are to succeed.

The entire Tourism Commission Action Programme can be downloaded from the commission's Web site