HONG KONG, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The structure of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo was completed on Monday, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said.

    The pavilion "has three exhibition levels, each highlighting a different aspect of Hong Kong's connectivity and creativity," the HKSAR government said in a news bulletin.

    The top level, with the theme of "connectivity to nature," showcases Hong Kong's natural heritage and the way in which the compact urban cityscape co-exists sustainably with extensive swathes of greenbelt, wetland and woodland areas.

    "The timely completion of the structure of the Hong Kong Pavilion marks a major milestone in our preparation for the Shanghai Expo," Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang was quoted as saying at a ceremony marking the 200-day countdown to the opening of the expo, which will run from May through October next year.

    The HKSAR government has committed 346 million HK dollars (44.4 million U.S. dollars) in funding for Hong Kong's Expo presence. The Hong Kong pavilion, located at the southwest forecourt of the China Pavilion, occupies a site of 637 square meters and will have an exhibition area of about 800 square meters.

Special Report:  Expo 2010 Shanghai China