Basketball fun: Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho and HSBC General Manager Raymond Or join representatives of two basketball teams at the contract-signing ceremony.

NBA stars Yao Ming and Bateer, plus superstars of the China Men's National Team will play against the Melbourne Tigers in the "HSBC Hong Kong International Basketball Challenge 2003" at the Coliseum on August 6.

Representatives of two teams announced the line-up for the event at a contract-signing ceremony today.

Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho, HSBC General Manager Raymond Or and HK Basketball Association President Lee Kwan Wah officiated at the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Ho expected that the event will arouse local residents' interest in basketball.

He hoped that it will help boost local consumption and rebuild local and international communities' confidence in Hong Kong.