More than 7,500 merchant outlets will participate in the 2006 Hong Kong Shopping Festival from June 24 to August 31, highlighting the city's multi-faceted shopping experience, the Tourism Board says.

Participating outlets include malls and department stores, open-air markets, top-brand flagship stores, Chinese authentic speciality store clusters, trendy boutiques and themed shopping streets.

The Aqua Fantasia multimedia water show, in which colourful images and words will appear on a transforming water curtain, will be staged beside the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower daily at 7.30pm, 8.30pm, 9pm and 9.30pm, with pyrotechnic displays added on Saturdays.

On June 24 and 25, and July 1 and 2, more pyrotechnic displays will be held off the Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai during the nightly light and sound show A Symphony of Lights.

Local merchant and retail organisations will organise an array of product expos and activities during the festival, while three food districts will stage culinary promotions.

The festival will feature a lucky draw featuring 113 prizes worth $2.7 million. The Shopper of the Year contest will also be held to generate extensive global publicity. Contestants from 20 markets will participate and the winners will travel to Hong Kong for the contest's final round at the end of August.