Marvel superheroes heading to Hong Kong

Hong Kong's Disneyland site is to become the home of Marvel's superheroes after new plans were recently unveiled for the theme park.

The city's financial chief John Tsang Chun-wah announced the proposals, which - according to local reports - will be completed by 2017.

He said the Marvel section will be "the first of its kind in the world".

Although it is the smallest Disneyland in existence, the development will make the Hong Kong site unique - something which should contribute to a jump in visitor numbers.

One or two characters are to be introduced as the core of the extension, but just who these will be depends on decisions over the next few months.

Disney previously said it planned to introduce more elements from Marvel Entertainment into its theme parks, with the corporation having acquired the latter in 2009 for $4 billion.

The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man took a total of $141 million during their runs on mainland China in 2012, featuring as the fourth and 10th highest-grossing international releases in the country.