More than 120 big colourful Buddy Bears from Berlin will soon be saying "guten tag" to Hong Kong.

Now on a world tour, the bears will stop off in Hong Kong in May at the United Buddy Bears Exhibition at Victoria Park.

Organised by the Leisure & Cultural Services and Home Affairs Departments, and the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation, and assisted by the HK Tourism Board, the Tourism Commission and the German Consulate General, the free exhibition will be held from 8am to 10pm daily from May 16 to June 27.

Bear care: Here are three of the cute Buddy Bears that will visit Hong Kong from May 16 to June 27. These ones feature a Spanish, a Chinese and an American flavour.

All for a good cause

The event will raise money for the foundation, the United Nations Children's Fund and the Community Chest.

It will show how art can be incorporated into daily life, and visitors will see the tremendous potential of public space in promoting creative culture and art.

The event will feature the Buddy Bear and Story Book Design Competitions, the Clay Bear and Puppet Workshops, Buddy Bear Story Telling, a Bear-Go-Round Workshop and an Exhibition on Works featuring the United Buddy Bears prize presentation ceremony. Souvenirs will also be on sale.

A bright idea

Movie star Jackie Chan suggested bringing the bears to Hong Kong, as they aim to promote love, peace, solidarity and public art. Filming on location in Germany recently, he became fascinated by the bears' messages of global peace and tolerance.

The bears were first displayed in Berlin in 2002 and the exhibition became a signature event, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors.

Designed by renowned artists of different countries, each design carries special meaning.

After the tour, the bears will be auctioned in Berlin and money raised will be donated to the United Nations Children's Fund.

For further information, call 2414 5555 or visit:

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk

http://www.united-buddy-bears.com

http://www.jackiechan.com