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Hong Kong tourism
Hong KongHong Kong Economy

Addition of 8 mainland Chinese cities to solo visit scheme expected to boost Hong Kong hotels, but bloggers say commute from Shenzhen cheaper

  • Solo travellers from eight more mainland cities will be allowed to visit Hong Kong from May 27, but bloggers advise commuting from Shenzhen
  • Financial Secretary Paul Chan ‘sincerely thanks’ central government for its ‘care and support’ for city

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Tourists take in the sights along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. Photo: Elson Li
Wynna Wong

Beijing’s decision to allow residents of eight more mainland Chinese cities to visit Hong Kong as solo travellers will increase the number of overnight stays and boost the economy, the finance chief has said.

But mainland bloggers have already suggested ways to circumvent “pricey” Hong Kong hotels by staying in neighbouring Shenzhen and commuting daily across the border.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his weekly blog on Sunday that expansion of the solo pass scheme to a new total of 59 mainland cities would bring more overnight visitors and help invigorate Hong Kong’s catering, retail and hotel sectors.

“The Special Administrative Region government and its residents sincerely thank the central government for its support and care for Hong Kong,” he said.

“It will also further strengthen the cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds between the mainland and Hong Kong.”

Tourists from mainland China at the Shenzhen Bay border crossing. Photo: Dickson Lee
Tourists from mainland China at the Shenzhen Bay border crossing. Photo: Dickson Lee

He was writing after Beijing’s National Immigration Administration announced on Saturday that, from May 27, residents from Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan, and Urumqi would be able to apply to visit on a solo basis instead of being restricted to tour group trips.

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