Construction projects form a large part of the preparatory work, and China must build thirteen permanent and seven temporary venues, and renovate or expand twelve existing facilities for the games by 2006. A host of permanent cultural, tourism and commercial facilities, in addition to infrastructure projects are also on the drawing board.

The city's subway will be expanded with the construction of Ba-Tong Subway Line, Subway Line No. 4 and No. 5, the Urban Light Rail, Olympic Subway Line, and the fast rail from Dongzhimen to Beijing Capital International Airport. Construction of the fifth and sixth circular roads is also planned to further improve the city's highway system.

Several Hong Kong firms have already expressed interest in bidding for the billions of dollars worth of development contracts for the games, he said.

"Hong Kong businesses can participate in the investment, management, design and construction of these projects. High-standard, quality work will create a good environment in which we will be able to host the Olympic Games and enable businesses to build a sound reputation in China and overseas," he said.

Hong Kong businesses can also use their expertise to help market the Olympics, as well as develop the service industries which are expected to play an important role in determining the success of the games.

The global Olympic brand provides golden opportunities for Hong Kong businesses to raise their profile and internationalise their products, Mr Zhang said.

"Hong Kong businesses can take advantage of their strengths to benefit from opportunities arising from the Olympics," he said. "These could include developing large logistics projects on a joint or individual basis, tourist attractions as well as tourist markets and products, and providing legal consultation services."

Environmental protection will also play a prominent role in the 2008 Olympic Games. In its editorial the morning news broke that Beijing had won its bid for the games, the People's Daily wrote: "The sky over Beijing in 2008 will be bluer, the city will be more beautiful, and the five-ring banner will be brighter. Full of high spirit and confidence, the Chinese people will spare no effort to add a most splendid chapter to the history of the Olympic Games."

The capital is not without its share of environmental problems, but Mr Zhang said since 1998, Beijing has implemented dozens of measures to improve the environment, and has spent over RMB40 billion in environmental-protection related construction.

"With the adoption of the "Green Olympics" concept, Beijing will invest RMB55 billion in construction projects related to environmental protection in the coming few years, and all of the 700 polluting enterprises in the city will be relocated or transformed into non-polluting ones," he said. "With the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing will have a new look."

To attract more foreign investment, over the next few years, Beijing will uphold a "door-opening" policy for the Olympic Games, and offer preferential measures to encourage firms to bid for Olympic construction projects.

"We will also set up a new and user-friendly examination and approval procedure for examining and approving projects," Mr Zhang said. "We welcome various sectors in Hong Kong to actively participate in the construction of Olympics-related projects and to offer their international and professional services."