Kungfu film star Jacky Chan made his fingerprint yesterday in Shanghai.

Chan, the tourism ambassador of Hong Kong, was in town as part of the Hong Kong Tourism Bureau's national promotion campaign for its new site, the Avenue of Stars, which will open next month.

The unveiling will coincide with the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday.

Chan's fingerprint has returned to Hong Kong and will be stored in the 122-meter avenue which is on the waterfront promenade between the Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East, looking over Victoria Harbor.

The Hong Kong Film Awards Association selected the first 24 Hong Kong film celebrities.

Along with Chan, film stars such as the actress Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), actor/pop singer Andy Lau and director John Woo (Face Off) are included.

"They will either leave their fingerprints or have monuments in the avenue," said Clara Chong, executive director of Hong Kong Tourism Board.

About 40 more names would join the avenue later, she said.

New world Development Company Limited has invested 40 million Hong Kong dollars (US$5.13 million) in the Avenue of Stars.

It is the first phase of the Hong Kong government's tourism zone in Tsim Sha Tsui which will be completed in 2008 or 2009.

Last year, the city had 15.5 million visitors, of whom 8.46 million were from the mainland.

(Shanghai Daily March 29, 2004)