Hong Kong leader John Lee demands better crowd control amid complaints against low-cost tour groups from mainland China
- John Lee weighs in on issue of tourists eating on streets and packing residential areas
- Travel authorities have tasked agencies to stagger meal times for tourists, as well as for restaurants serving tours to implement booking system
Hong Kong’s leader has told officials to better manage crowds amid complaints about low-cost tour groups from mainland China, with residents voicing unhappiness over visitors gathering and eating takeaway meals in densely populated areas.
He revealed he had tasked the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Travel Industry Authority with managing the tours’ impact on traffic congestion.
“They should work hard to plan, come up with measures and systems so tourists will have a good experience, and problems brought to the community can be resolved,” he said.
With quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and the mainland restored since February, tour groups from across the border have returned to the city in large numbers. This has resulted in visitors crowding streets in Hung Hom, Kowloon City and To Kwa Wan.
The tourists are ferried in coaches to the districts for shopping at stores catering to them. Their presence after a three-year lull has sparked complaints of noise disturbance and hygiene issues from residents.
The Post observed on Monday that residential areas in To Kwa Wan were the most affected, with tourists at times spilling onto the streets while queuing for meals or to board coaches.
