Mickey tries the Mao look

HONG KONG — Hong Kong Disneyland unveiled new Chinese New Year outfits for Mickey and Minnie Mouse created by designer Vivienne Tam on Monday as part of the park's efforts to boost its appeal to Chinese tourists after a dismal second year.

Disney's two iconic characters strutted their stuff down a red carpet — Mickey in a bright red Mao suit and Minnie in a cherry-blossom-red dress with a bouquetlike bottom.

Mao suits were named after late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, who frequently donned tight-collared outfits instead of Western-style dress shirt and tie.

Nine other models also displayed red and black dresses featuring Mickey Mouse patterns.

The outfits will be available at Tam's stores in March or April.

Hong Kong Disneyland brought in Tam's star power to help attract more tourists from neighboring mainland China — which has emerged as the park's biggest market — amid disappointing results.

Apart from Mickey and Minnie's new wardrobe, the park itself has been decorated with red firecrackers, red Chinese-language scrolls bearing good-luck messages, and orange tangerines, according to Chinese New Year custom.

It will stage a dragon dance Feb. 7, the first day of the Chinese New Year, and plans to add Chinese food items like fried turnip cake and coconut red bean pudding.

"Our mission is to be very connected with the local culture — with mainland China, Hong Kong," Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest said.

Ernest said Disney was still in talks with the Hong Kong government about expanding the park. The park has been frequently criticized as being too small and lacking the high-profile rides of its sister parks in Tokyo, Paris and the United States.

Hong Kong Disneyland, a joint venture between the Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Co. that opened in September 2005, has come under fire for its poor performance.

It drew 5.2 million visitors in its first year of operation — 400,000 short of its target — and only more than 4 million in its second year.