Hong Kong will make every effort to ensure the ITU Telecom World 2006 a success to reinforce the city 's image as the world's events capital, a government official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Tuesday.

"It is the largest and most prestigious exhibition and forum event held in Hong Kong in recent years," said Joseph WP Wong, secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of HKSAR government.

Speaking at a press conference on the event, Wong said that the expo, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and hosted by Hong Kong, would run from Dec. 4 to 8 at AsiaWorld-Expo. And this is also the first time the event, which is regarded as the "Olympics" of the telecommunications industry, will be held outside Geneva.

This prominent event provides an invaluable platform for the information and communications technology (ICT) sector to showcase their achievements and exchange views and information with their counterparts from around the world, he said.

"Most importantly, hosting the event enhances Hong Kong's role as the gateway to the Mainland market, and further enhances Hong Kong's image as the world's events capital," Wong said.

Highlights of the exhibition and forum will be broadcast at the website of Radio Television Hong Kong, and on the morning programs of TVB's Jade and Pearl channels, he added.

All 66,000 square meters of the exhibition space have been leased out, with 630 international ICT companies showcasing their latest technologies and services. Among the exhibitors, 145 are from the Chinese mainland, while 71 companies are from Hong Kong.

It is estimated that the event will attract up to 60,000 visitors to Hong Kong, generating a direct economic benefit of about 900 million HK dollars (115.68 million U.S. dollars).

"We will implement temporary traffic arrangements, including traffic diversion and adjustment of traffic light signals, to relieve traffic congestion to and from the airport and AsiaWorld-Expo, as well as in the urban areas, when necessary," said Cindy Law, assistant commissioner for Transport of HKSAR government.

She said that the Transport Department will work closely with the Police and other departments to monitor the traffic situation closely and to implement special traffic measures when necessary.

Telecom World 2006 will comprise two parts including a world-class exhibition and a high-level forum.

Source: Xinhua