Hong Kong must tackle decline in mainland visitor numbers, says chief executive in Beijing
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said he would seek ways to tackle the recent decline in the number of mainland visitors to the city.
His remarks came last night as he confirmed he had a meeting with Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Wang Guangya on Wednesday, when Wang expressed concern over the issue.
Leung, who spoke in Beijing last night hours after attending the country’s military parade with a big delegation from the city, quoted Wang as saying that previous anti-parallel-trader protests in Hong Kong had hurt mainlanders' feelings.
He said: “I have discussed with Wang what to do in the short term. And according to Wang, the anti-parallel traders’ [protests] and other similar activities or remarks had hurt the feelings of mainland visitors. We have much remedial work to do.”
He said the city’s tourism sector might face a recession that would harm the retail, catering and transport sectors if the government did not take remedial action or adopt changes in its policy.
We have much remedial work to do
He said the work included the submission of the city’s proposal on how it could work with the central government on the country’s 13th five-year plan.
“We want to discuss with the business sector to see what we can do [to tackle the drop in tourists], but what’s more important is that we can show Hong Kong remains a city of hospitality to mainland and foreign visitors.”
The number of mainland visitors plunged 9.8 per cent year-on-year to about 3.85 million in July, the Tourism Board said on Monday.
On the same day, the government reported that retail sales in the city declined for a fifth straight month, as the further drop in tourist arrivals and stock market turmoil exacted a toll on consumption,
Leung said his meeting with Wang, which lasted about two hours, focused on how Hong Kong could win support from and coordinate with the central government and regional authorities to maintain the momentum of economic growth amid uncertain external economic conditions.
The chief executive said they did not talk about whether he would run for a second term.
