Hong Kong Disneyland is giving 20,000 free tickets to underprivileged members of the community, for visits to the park next month prior to its opening in September, a local newspaper reported on Sunday.

Priority will be given to children from poor and immigrant families, disabled people and those affected by the 2003 SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak, the South China Morning Post quoted the local Disney office as saying.

The free tickets would be valid for Disney's Community Caring Days on August 30 and August 31. Hong Kong's social welfare department will oversee their distribution and non-governmental organizations will soon be invited to apply for them.

The theme park is scheduled to open on September 12, and tickets for the opening day and the first 90 days are already on sale.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2005)