Hong Kong Disneyland Tuesday announced the group's outgoing managing director Don Robinson will be replaced by Bill Ernest, a veteran executive with Walt Disney Company.

Joining the company in 1994, Ernest has held "several leadership positions" in managing hotels and operations in the Disney group, said a statement issued by Hong Kong Disneyland on Tuesday.

In the past 12 years, Ernest was in charge of the launch of Disney Cruise Line in Florida, served as vice president of Resorts Operations at Walt Disney World, and was appointed as general manager of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney's All-Star Resorts at Walt Disney World.

Ernest, who is currently senior vice president and managing director of operations of Hong Kong Disneyland, was also promoted to executive vice president.

The outgoing Robinson has been named president of hotel group in Bahamas.

Since its opening less than four months ago, the Hong Kong Disneyland hasn't achieved the maximum single day visit of 30,000 people until December when there were more public holidays.

Despite of negative media reports on the park and its latest top executive reshuffle, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has expressed confidence in the international group's capability to bring visitors and profits to Hong Kong.

"We are confident that Hong Kong Disneyland will continue to develop into a premier attraction for family tourists in the region," said a government spokesman when commenting on the change of the group's managing director.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)