By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-17 04:26:43 | Updated at 2024-12-17 06:45:35
2 hours ago
Hongkongers should seize the opportunities brought by the increasing number of mainland Chinese visitors after the resumption of a multi-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents, the city 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 top decision-making Executive Council.
He called on the city to get fully prepared and seize the opportunity, 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.
Lee said the recent spike in mainland arrivals already benefited the retail sector, with watch stores seeing a 10 to 20 per cent increase in turnover.
