AGNES CHAN CROWNED GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

Communication and friendship between Hong Kong and Japan is set to be boosted further after Agnes Chan, a renowned entertainer in both places, was appointed Hong Kong Goodwill Ambassador today (19 April) by the Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board, The Hon Mrs Selina Chow, JP.

Hong Kong born Agnes has been a household name in Japan for many years. Even after settling in Japan, she has been actively assisting in promoting Hong Kong, and is regarded by Japanese residents as one of the most representative Hong Kong personalities.

Speaking at today’s crowning ceremony, Mrs Chow recognised Agnes Chan’s contribution to tourism. “Our Japanese visitors are very fond of Hong Kong films and music,” she said. “Agnes has played her part over the years in helping them discover that Hong Kong has no shortage of either, as well as its better-known cosmopolitan attributes of first class shopping and dining.”

Agnes started her Japanese performing career in 1972, three years after achieving teenage stardom in Hong Kong. Since then she has been actively involved in the promotion of Hong Kong in Japan. In 1997, she published a book in Japan called Hong Kong Guide Book, featuring Hong Kong’s popular tourist spots. Last year, a special Japanese TV programme about Agnes was shot in Hong Kong. Early this year, she took part in Asahi TV’s Jukunen Trio’s visit to Hong Kong programme.

Agnes’s appointment as Hong Kong Goodwill Ambassador will not only allow her to work even more closely with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, but also increase her impact when promoting Hong Kong in Japan, thereby helping attract even more Japanese visitors to the “City of Life”.

In recent years, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has been actively developing the family and female markets in Japan. The healthy, positive image of Agnes and her family will add extra momentum to these initiatives. Her appearance in consumer and travel trade shows will also help enhance the Tourism Board’s publicity efforts.

Japan is Hong Kong’s third largest source market for overseas visitors. In 2000, visitor arrivals from Japan were more than 1.38 million, accounting for 10.6% of the total. Japan is also the third largest market in terms of visitor spending, bringing in more than HK$6.5 billion tourism receipts last year for Hong Kong.


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The Hong Kong Tourism Board was formerly known as the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA). The change took effect from 1 April 2001 and reflects a change to the tourism body’s constitutional structure. Its primary responsibilities for marketing and promoting Hong Kong as a destination worldwide, and for providing visitors with assistance when they arrive, remain unchanged.