More departures than arrivals in Hong Kong as ‘golden week' kicks off
Hong Kong has recorded more residents leaving the city at the beginning of the five-day Labour Day 'golden week' holiday than mainland Chinese tourists coming in, even though many inbound visitors still favour sightseeing, shopping and hiking.
Advertisement
As of 10am on Thursday, nearly 63,000 mainland Chinese tourists flocked to Hong Kong while more than 80,000 city residents left for other destinations.
The West Kowloon terminus was packed with visitors from across the border on Thursday morning, with some of them coming in for day trips in the city while others intended to stay longer and spend more on shopping and dining.
Many mainland visitors and crowds were spotted at the scenic High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, with a heavy presence of police and staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to maintain order.
Among those travelling via high-speed trains to Hong Kong was primary teacher Jill Yao, who arrived at the terminus at around 10am after a 1½-hour journey from Guangzhou city.
Tourists arrive in Hong Kong to spend the Labour Day 'Golden day' holiday. Photo: May Tse
The 42-year-old came to Hong Kong for a two-day trip with her husband, two sons aged 13 and seven, as well as her parents-in-law, before heading to Macau.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
4 days ago
- HKFP
Hong Kong government watchdog investigates amenities in countryside amid city's tourism push
Hong Kong's government watchdog has announced an investigation into amenities in the city's countryside, an effort to boost tourism amid complaints about hygiene and insufficient facilities in some nature spots. The Office of The Ombudsman said on Thursday that the probe is intended to align with the government's efforts to develop green tourism and the concept that 'tourism is everywhere' in the city – a notion put forward by Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong. The watchdog said it noted news reports of inadequate toilets and poor hygiene conditions in some countryside areas. Information on transport, water filling locations and toilet locations are also said to be lacking, the watchdog said in a statement. The Ombudsman added that it has also 'received complaints about the slow progress of countryside facility maintenance and insufficient supporting resources, such as delays in rain shelter repairs and insufficient publicity for visitor centres.' As part of the investigation, the Ombudsman will examine the operations of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), as well as other departments responsible for managing country parks and ancillary facilities. The government watchdog's announcement came after the Labour Day Golden Week holiday earlier this month, when the city saw large crowds of tourists visiting the countryside, including Grass Island and the MacLehose Trail. Both places are widely featured in posts about Hong Kong travel tips on Xiaohongshu, a mainland Chinese social media app. In Sai Kung, the High Island Geo Trail saw over 3,000 tourists a day, most of whom came from mainland China, news outlets reported. Tourists in some countryside areas waited a long time for minibuses and some complained about inconvenient transport arrangements, according to local media. Jack Chan, the Ombudman, said he himself observed garbage accumulation and traffic congestion during the recent Labour Day holiday. Established in 1989, the Office of The Ombudsman is the city's independent watchdog for probing the government. Controversies emerged with the watchdog earlier in May after it was found to have removed decades' worth of annual and investigative reports, as well as other documents, from its website, saying the move is for 'more effective website management.'
HKFP
21-05-2025
- HKFP
Hong Kong names 9 hotspots in new tourism drive
Soy sauce factory Lee Kum Kee, Yau Ma Tei Police Station, and Hong Kong's hill and mountain peaks are among nine locations a government working group has named in a new tourism drive. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, who chairs the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots, said the nine locations underlined 'the concept of 'tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong,'' referencing the notion put forward by Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Cheuk said the new tourism offerings showcased Hong Kong's characteristics and were photogenic. Sauce makers Lee Kum Kee and Pat Chun, bakery Kee Wah, and yoghurt drink company Yakult will hold tours starting in the third quarter of this year. Authorities will also develop tourism offerings around the city's 'four peaks': The Peak, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung Hoi, and Tai Mo Shan. The peaks' drive will begin late next year. The government also plans to open the Edwardian-style building of the former Yau Ma Tei Police Station to visitors, organise trips to sites related to the city's disciplined services, and host regular themed bazaars at Causeway Bay's Victoria Park. The disciplined services' museums, including the Police Museum and the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, will launch tourism offerings in the second quarter of this year. A bazaar at Victoria Park is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter, operating on weekends and public holidays. Kowloon City and Central have also been designated as 'in-depth' tourism destinations. The government has been promoting 'in-depth' tourism, which focuses on the city's culture and history, to attract visitors from different markets. Cheuk said that 'new travel patterns and tourists' preferences increasingly value hotspots with unique features that are part of the flavour of Hong Kong.' No performance goals He also said the working group would not set performance goals for arrivals in relation to the new tourism drive, citing the difficulty of quantifying its effect. 'I think common sense will tell you that these nine projects, seven of which will be implemented by the end of this year, will together considerably add to the overall appeal of Hong Kong as a tourist destination [for] overseas visitors and also visitors from the mainland,' he added. Asked about the phenomenon of low-budget mainland Chinese visitors, Cheuk rubbished the notion that mainland tourists were not spending enough. 'I believe the reports were magnified and exaggerated,' he said. 'Don't be misled by one or two images into thinking that many tourists don't spend money when visiting Hong Kong.'
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
‘Opportunity I could not let pass': Hong Kong expats embrace life in Qatar
Hongkonger and Christian William Soo Yau-kung beat the odds by starting a new chapter in his career eight years ago at the age of 50, relocating to the Islamic country of Qatar, an unconventional choice perhaps for expats. 'Working for Qatar [Airways] is like playing an international match as I get to work alongside top engineers from around the world – holding almost 200 different passports – which motivates me to learn more and do better,' the flight operations engineer said. 'While most companies concentrate their resources on daily operations, I was given a chance to build a new system, a project my company recognised for its long-term importance.' The job satisfaction, combined with an attractive package that included accommodation and his twin sons' education at an international school – comparable to that of a pilot in his previous company – has led to Soo's family staying in Doha for eight years. Soo and his wife shared their experiences with the Post from their home in Doha ahead of a visit by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and a delegation of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong entrepreneurs to Qatar and Kuwait last week to explore business opportunities. As a Christian family, Soo explained they had been able to find their religious community in the Muslim country but must adhere to the rules during Ramadan.
