Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens braved coldness on the streets Thursday evening to enjoy the elaborate floats and performances of a night parade, celebrating the traditional Chinese New Year.

Although this was the coldest Chinese New Year in Hong Kong over the past eight years, people were enthusiastic to view the parade -- a blend of traditional Chinese and international cultural performances.

In order to occupy a good viewing position, many people arrived at the site several hours before the parade began, and waited in cold air. It is estimated that more than 200,000 citizens and tourists went to the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui, where the parade took place.

Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration, Donald Tsang, said at the opening of the parade that being held the first time in the evening, the parade is one of the many efforts Hong Kong is making to develop new attractions, renovate its existing facilities for tourists and generally beautify the city.

Over the next two years, visitors will be able to experience wonderful new attractions including the Disneyland, new Cable Car and the Wetland Park, said Tsang, adding that "we are determined to remain the most popular city destination for tourists in Asia."

He wished all the citizens and tourists good health, happiness and prosperity in the Year of the Monkey.

The parade began with the float of Cathay Pacific, the sponsor of the parade, and then followed by a float featuring Monkey King, symbolizing good fortune in the year.

Hong Kong Disneyland presented a magical celebration on wheels featuring spectacular lighting and lively music to immerse audiences of all ages in the holiday atmosphere. Set in traditional Chinese festive colors, red and gold, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale joined the celebration to greet the audience extending their best wishes for the New Year.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club decorated a set of race starting gates to form a colorful festival float called the "Good Start" float to wish Hong Kong good luck in the New Year.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the organizer of the parade, presented the "Sharing New Year Treasure: Hong Kong -- Live it, Love it!" float, symbolizing visitors and local residents enjoying this city of diversity and sophistication.

Coming to Hong Kong to join local performers in the parade this year were also tourism organizations from Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Britain and the United States, as well as performing groups from Chinese mainland.

In total, there were 10 brightly illuminated floats and some 26 performing groups. The wide variety of entertainment include candle-lit lanterns from Japan; lively music, dance and fanciful costumes of a Caribbean carnival; cheerful marching bands; Chinese acrobatics and so on.

To make this year's night parade truly spectacular, the HKTB invited from Australia the performance consultant for the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games to advise on the lighting effects and presentation of the parade.

The lighting fantasia was extended to the entire parade route through the use of lasers, powerful searchlights and spotlights as well as a giant lighting globe of a type never seen before in outdoor parade around the world.

Since 1996, the annual International Chinese New Year Parade has helped to establish Hong Kong as the focal point for Chinese New Year celebrations around the world. The adoption of a new route this year and the parade's transformation from a daytime event to a nigh-time extravaganza, set against Hong Kong's spectacular skyline, gave visitors a brand new experience.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2004)