Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Christmas Eve in Hong Kong, obviously in a mood to revel and celebrate thanks to the strength of the economy, dubbed "best in ten years" by local media.

An estimated 450,000 people swarmed to Tsim Sha Tsui, the waterfront area with a lit view of Hong Kong's skyscraper-filled skylines at night across the Victoria Harbor, said the police, who had been posted at the scene to help maintain the order and the traffic.

With fireworks and special neon effects, revelers took part in a countdown to Christmas, with many saying they were exuberant to be part of the festive spirit.

Hong Kong provided for a two-day public holiday this Christmas, leaving people resting for four out of the five days from the start of the weekend on Saturday to Wednesday.

"I am planning to take a good rest," said a woman in her twenties, surnamed Cheung, "Some of those I know are planning to have a good rest. Also some others said they were leaving Hong Kong on a short vacation."

Customs authorities said about 640,000 cross-border travels were recorded by 10:00 PM on Monday, among whom 110,000 went over to the mainland side from Hong Kong, showing increasing ties and traffic flows.

Over 70,000 left the metropolis of about 7 million people from its airport, obviously illustrating a robust local economy.

Hong Kong recorded an economic growth of over 6 percent in the past four years in a row, with the stock market surging to new highs since June and the housing market rebounding to a strength rarely seen after plunging to the bottom in 2003.

Unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in 9.5 years and mortgage delinquency has fallen to a record low while new mortgages are rising steadily.

Thousands of people flocked to Lan Kwai Fong, the well-known evening party area on Hong Kong's namesake main island, packing the bars amid joyful Christmas music there.

"Consumers seem to have loosened their belts and are willing to spend more because of the better economy," said a hotel staff. " Last year, bookings were full a few days before Christmas. But this year, it was already full weeks before the festive season."

The number of people booking an expensive package on a South America tour had more than doubled to about 30, the English- language South China Morning Post reported Tuesday.

Others had chosen to spend Christmas Eve at Ocean Park Hong Kong, a popular theme park on the Hong Kong island, or its competitor Hong Kong Disneyland, where activities were staged to simulate the snow-covered Christmas world with the Mickey Mouse.

Many visitors from the mainland and other areas were also spending Christmas in Hong Kong, with some craving a shopping carnival in China's melting-pot world city.

Visitors said they enjoyed the festive spirit on Christmas Eve in Hong Kong while some local residents said it was a colder but lovelier evening, referring to a sharp drop in local temperature from around 20 degrees Celsius to around 15 degrees.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2007)