Hong Kong’s leader says bold tourism ideas welcome but must be practical
- John Lee tells lawmakers that imaginative ways to lure tourists to city are needed, but logistics must be feasible
Hong Kong’s leader has asked lawmakers to consider the feasibility of their tourism ideas, noting that while grand ones are welcome, they may be challenging to implement.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Thursday the city should aim to be a “paradise” but one to which visitors would return, referring to the Chinese fable The Peach Blossom Spring.
“Personally, Hong Kong’s most beautiful attraction is our Victoria Harbour,” he told lawmakers at his second question and answer session at the Legislative Council this year.
He said the government had heard suggestions in the past about how Hong Kong could design a show in which “something could rise up from the harbour at certain times of the day”.
“In theory, it sounds striking, but the feasibility of it and how it would operate locally – it was a challenge,” he said.
Lee recalled he had asked the person advocating the idea to think of ways to solve the logistical challenges.
“But [the person] never got back to me, which means there are many grand ideas out there, but the difficulties of actually implementing them are hard to overcome,” he said.
Lee was speaking after finance sector lawmaker Ronick Chan Chun-ying suggested Hong Kong take a page out of the mainland Chinese city of Lijiang and consider staging “immersive” shows by famous directors to create a signature experience that was unforgettable to tourists.
Chan was referring to “Impressions Lijiang”, an outdoor song and dance performance against the backdrop of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, more than 3,000 metres (9,840 feet) above sea level. The one-hour show was designed by mainland filmmaker Zhang Yimou.
Lee agreed Hong Kong needed a “signature performance”, which the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau had been exploring on many fronts, but it took “wisdom” to come up with ideas that were both creative but feasible.
Lee also pointed to the importance of publicity, referring to The Peach Blossom Spring in which the main character chances upon an ethereal paradise secluded from the rest of the world but fails to return.
“Publicity is what makes people aware Hong Kong is a paradise, but not the one from the story that is hidden from everyone,” he said. “We want everyone to know.”
Lee said the government valued exchanges of opinions and even opposition and criticism.
“I often pay attention to debates in Legco, because we need to demonstrate the superior values of patriots governing Hong Kong, unlike Western parliaments that engage in adversarial politics,” he said.
The leader praised lawmakers for their high level of efficiency in seeking common ground rather than resorting to a “winner-takes-all” mentality.
Meanwhile, former commerce minister Frederick Ma Si-hang said Hong Kong must work hard to find its advantages amid a changing economy.
Speaking at the “Opportunities in Hong Kong” media tour on the latest developments in the Greater Bay Area, Ma said the city could not focus on cheap prices as a tourist offering.
“The model of tourism has changed. Cheap prices cannot attract our mainland counterparts any more,” Ma said. “Hong Kong needs its own uniqueness.”
Ma added that the city could not be “complacent”, with many aspects, such as the service quality of its taxi drivers, in need of improvement.
Additional reporting by Jess Ma
