Disney hopes China is Magic Kingdom

HONG KONG, July 10 (UPI) -- The Walt Disney Co. is hoping Hong Kong Disneyland, scheduled to open in September, will pave the way for the company's products on the mainland.

"Our primary targets would be development of a park on the mainland, launching the Disney Channel and building our presence on new media platforms such as broadband and cell phones," Disney CEO-elect Robert Iger told Time magazine. "And, of course, more Disney movies."

With 1.3 billion people, 290 million under 14 -- Disney's prime audience -- China is the Magic Kingdom for a consumer company, the magazine said.

Iger said the company has learned from Euro Disney in France.

"In Hong Kong we built a park that made much more sense economically," he said. "And clearly a variety of aspects are respectful of local culture."

Hardly anyone in China knew Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck even existed a few years ago, the magazine said. Disney characters were banned for nearly 40 years after Chairman Mao's takeover.