John Lee urges Hongkongers to seize ‘golden opportunities’ amid tourist influx

City leader also promises smooth border crossing for mainland Chinese tourists ahead of Christmas holiday

Reading Time:3 minutes

The number of mainland Chinese tourists coming to Hong Kong has been on the rise since the resumption of a multi-entry visa scheme. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 12:20pm, 17 Dec 2024Updated: 10:07pm, 17 Dec 2024

Hongkongers should seize the opportunities arising from the increasing number of mainland Chinese visitors after the resumption of a multi-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents, the city’s leader has said, promising a smooth border crossing for tourists ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday that his administration would focus on driving up the city’s economic development to reduce a ballooning budget deficit, sidestepping a question about whether he would consider a pay cut for public servants.

He said economic growth counted on investment, exports and consumption, which was boosted this month after Beijing resumed the visa scheme, allowing Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of visits within a year instead of the previous one-trip-per-week arrangement.

“The resumption [of the scheme] is seeing a very good return of tourists from the mainland, particularly from Shenzhen and we can see the rise in figures of tourists, particularly over the weekend,” Lee said ahead of his weekly meeting with the government’s key decision-making Executive Council.

He called on the city to get fully prepared and seize opportunities, especially when the rising trend was expected to continue ahead of the Christmas holiday and the New Year’s countdown fireworks.

“First of all, we have to ensure that we will treat them nicely so that they all have a good experience and will think of coming back,” he said.