Hong Kong seeks to expand travel plans for mainland residents: John Lee

Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu said Hong Kong will seek to expand tourism plans for mainland residents to enhance Hong Kong’s visibility and prosperity, adding that Hong Kong is well prepared for the upcoming May Day Golden Week.

Li said in an interview with the media on Tuesday morning that about 800,000 mainland tourists will visit Hong Kong during the Golden Week.

Border crossings and transportation facilities are prepared to handle the influx of tourists and provide quality services and experiences to tourists. As for whether the fireworks show on May 1 will go ahead as scheduled, he said an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

At the same time, the Hong Kong leader said that the central government’s latest measures to facilitate the entry of mainland business representatives and skilled workers to Hong Kong will help bring more talents to Hong Kong, and he will continue to lobby for the introduction of more new measures that are beneficial to Hong Kong.

The latest measures involve mainland business visa holders, who will be able to stay in or in Macao for 14 days, double the current seven days, with the relaxed rules taking effect on May 6. Services for Bay Area residents will be expanded to Beijing and Shanghai.

Li said the SAR will lobby to expand the individual travel plan for mainland residents to visit Hong Kong to attract more high-spending mainland compatriots.