Blanket Of Smog Marks Magical Occasion As Hong Kong Disneyland Opens

[hatrack]

HONG KONG - Walt Disney Co. officially opened its new Hong Kong theme park on Monday, exporting a piece of the Magic Kingdom to China's doorstep in a bold bid to gain a bigger foothold in the vast Chinese market.

As a blanket of smog covered the territory, Chinese lion dancers in gold and red emerged from Sleeping Beauty's Castle to chase away evil spirits and bring good luck to the new business.

EDIT


Disney has faced criticism in the run-up to the opening, including claims of dangerous sweatshop conditions at Chinese factories making Disney toys and concern that smoke from its nightly fireworks show will worsen Hong Kong's pollution problem. A blanket of smog, mainly from factories in southern China, choked much of the territory on Monday as Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong helped to officially open the park.

The pollution, close to the worst levels in the city so far this year, obscured its famous skyline and Victoria Harbour, though conditions at the park on nearby Lantau island improved as the day wore on.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32474/story.htm

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. I'm sorry. I am smiling.

I think Disney is the Antichrist.