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Letters | What Hong Kong should ask itself after New Year’s Eve transport chaos

  • Readers discuss Hong Kong as a tourist destination, calls for support from a popular bar area, and taxi drivers’ push for a fare increase

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Tourists wait in long queues to get buses at the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint after spending New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong. Photo: Xiaohongshu
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I am not surprised at all that some mainland travellers were stranded in Hong Kong on New Year’s Eve. When I was looking for trains from Guangzhou to Hong Kong or Shenzhen on January 1, I was unable to secure a seat on any train, including in business class, as all tickets were sold out. Consequently, I had to take a Cathay Pacific flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. Fortunately, the flight was on time, and not cancelled as some Cathay flights were.

The local authorities should consider adding more train services, especially during the holiday season when there is a high volume of travellers crossing the border.

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In addition, Hong Kong should reflect on why mainland visitors are not willing to stay in the city for at least one night. There seems to be nothing appealing enough to capture their attention.

I decided to skip the New Year’s countdown in Hong Kong this time, a first for me; I have been watching it for over a decade. Instead, I celebrated the New Year in Guangzhou after my arrival from Moscow.
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This choice was influenced by my experience of encountering problems during the National Day fireworks display last year, such as poor control of the large crowds. Travelling to Russia for the New Year celebrations was more enjoyable than being in Hong Kong.
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