Hong Kong's government announced yesterday that it would introduce a series of initiatives to encourage visitors and consumers to the shopping areas of Causeway Bay and Wanchai to help local shops resume normal business after the WTO Ministerial Conference

Chief Executive Donald Tsang visited the area on Tuesday afternoon to commend businesspeople for their tolerance and cooperation in the face of inconvenience and disruptions during the weeklong conference.

The WTO meeting, mainly held in Wanchai, did not bring in much business to the area and nearby Causeway Bay, and many shops actually lost business because of anti-WTO demonstrations, according to Xinhua News Agency today.

Tsang promised that the government would soon take measures to boost business in the area.

He said, "I understand that businesspeople in Wanchai and Causeway Bay were affected during the conference and some of them could not operate."

The measures will include a free shuttle bus service connecting Wanchai and Causeway Bay and terminating at Golden Bauhinia Square, a fare discount of HK$2 to Octopus cardholders exiting Wanchai and Causeway Bay Stations and arranging Santa Claus appearances along the streets.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2005)