1 million leave Hong Kong on first 2 days of July 1 long weekend while 248,000 arrive
- Figure underlines growing trend of residents leaving city for holidays
Hong Kong residents made more than a million trips out of the city on the first two days of the July 1 long weekend, while some complained that local merchants’ one-day-only discounts were not compelling enough to make them stay.
The numbers underline a growing trend of more Hongkongers crossing the border into mainland China for bargain shopping and leisure activities, posing new challenges for local retailers and restaurants.
On Sunday, residents made 483,517 trips out of the city, according to the Immigration Department. Saturday’s figure of 553,511 marked the second-highest daily number since the lifting of Covid-related travel restrictions.
The highest post-pandemic figure was recorded on March 29 this year, on Good Friday when 700,808 residents left the city.
The number of departures at the start of the weekend before the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule on July 1 significantly exceeded last year’s 364,167.
Of the 1,037,028 residents who left the city on Saturday and Sunday, at least 89 per cent – or 918,821 – headed to different parts of the mainland via the high-speed railway or other land crossings. Over the two days, more than 88,000 left the city by air.
Hongkongers continued to head north on Monday, as families taking trains to land crossings connected to the Lo Wu and the Lok Ma Chau stations could take advantage of free rides for children to mark the holiday.
But a sales assistant surnamed Cheung, 36, was not aware of the free rides and let her 10-year-old daughter use an adult Octopus card.
Cheung was not impressed by the offer. “We wouldn’t have saved much. If it’s just one time, it doesn’t give the impression that they want to help you. It’s not surprising, and it doesn’t come off as sincere,” she said.
Free train rides for children are among initiatives by businesses to entice Hongkongers to stay and spend locally over the long weekend.
Retired construction consultant Tommy Yeung Hoi-kwan, 66, saved 29 per cent on his breakfast bill at a chain restaurant that took part in the discount campaign. But he was still heading to Shenzhen to spend the rest of the day.
“Free admission to the government’s facilities and discounted meals simply cannot beat what Shenzhen can offer. It only takes me HK$4 on two [bus] rides to reach Heung Yuen Wai port from home,” Yeung said. “It’s a no-brainer to go up north.”
He added: “Having dinner and a massage there is easily 50 per cent cheaper than in Hong Kong.
“You can’t beat the price and quality service in Shenzhen. It is worth the time waiting for customs clearance and I think a lot of people who opt to spend money across the border think the same.”
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Aerial view of China’s new Shenzhen-Zhongshan mega link
In the opposite direction, 248,367 visitors from the mainland and elsewhere arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday and Sunday, only 3 per cent higher than the previous weekend.
Sunday marked the official opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a road project designed to cut the journey time between the two mainland cities on either side of the Pearl River Delta to 30 minutes from two hours, though an influx of curious motorists caused hours of traffic jams.
In March, Hongkongers made nearly 1.76 million outbound trips during the first three days of the Easter holiday, a stark contrast to the 400,000 inbound trips over the same period.
Cross-border tours to Guangdong, Fujian and Guizhou provinces on the mainland gained in popularity among Hong Kong residents leaving the city over Easter.
Additional reporting by Oscar Liu and Alice Kong
