Tourists unconvinced by promise of mainland tariff cuts as they flock to HK for Labour Day weekend

There was good news for the tourism industry as large numbers of visitors flocked to Hong Kong for the Labour Day weekend. Mainland tourists also said it could be another few years before the city loses its lure as a shopping centre.

After a disappointing Easter holiday, there had been worries that the Labour Day holiday, traditionally a peak period for mainland travellers to visit Hong Kong, would lose its lustre this year.

The announcement by the State Council that tariffs on popular imported consumer goods on the mainland would be cut on a trial basis before next month further dampened business sentiment in the city, as the policy would narrow the difference in the price of such goods in Hong Kong and on the mainland.

But it appears that shopping in Hong Kong remains attractive to mainland tourists, at least for the time being.

Yesterday, shopping districts such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok were crowded. Queues appeared outside luxury brand stores including Hermes, Chanel and Cartier, while jewellery shops were also busy.

Shenzhen resident Tracy You, 27, was among shoppers on Canton Road yesterday.

She usually visits every couple of months, but avoided the city in March due to protests against parallel traders in Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Sha Tin.