www射-国产免费一级-欧美福利-亚洲成人福利-成人一区在线观看-亚州成人

HK needs to change attitude to visitors

Updated: 2014-06-09 07:10

By Song Sio-chong(HK Edition)

  Print Mail Large Medium  Small 分享按鈕 0

Hong Kong is facing a dilemma over the influx of mainland tourists coming here under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS).

Of course, many people recognize the value and benefits the scheme has brought to Hong Kong's economy since it was implemented in mid-2003. Last year, more than 41 million mainlanders visited the SAR - more than 28 million through this scheme. Mainland tourists have contributed much towards generating revenue and employment opportunities in the retail industry. Without this, we would probably have experienced another economic recession similar to that of 2003.

But the scheme has also been widely criticized by local people. They complain about streets, shops and public transport being over-crowded because of too many visitors from the mainland.

Demand for many items in Hong Kong shops has increased, putting pressure on rents, while inconveniencing local consumers who must compete for those categories of goods popular with shoppers from the mainland.

Some political activists have launched the "anti-locust" campaign and other protests against mainlanders. This has sparked animosity among Hongkongers and mainlanders, and has been widely reported in the media on both sides of the border.

Hong Kong faces a major challenge in resolving these issues. It is a test for the SAR government, its leaders and for the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

At a meeting with the Commission on Strategic Development on May 26, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying floated the idea of a 20 percent reduction in visitor numbers as a possible solution. The following day, financial markets reacted negatively to this. Share prices for property developers and retailers, such as Wharf, Hysan, Sa Sa, and Chow Tai Fook, dropped more than 3 percent.

HK needs to change attitude to visitors

However, there is no need to panic about this. Our neighbor Macao, with a much smaller population and geographical area, copes with similar numbers of mainland visitors. But Macao does not complain about them. Indeed, it is preparing ambitious plans to transform itself into one of the world's leading tourist and leisure hubs.

If Macao can do this then why can't Hong Kong? I frequently ask myself and others this question. Hong Kong's circumstances would seem to be 10-20 times better than Macao's in terms of economic strength, population, size of territory, topography and even skilled workers. In terms of shopping, Hong Kong long ago surpassed Macao. Hong Kong also has a better physical environment for tourists. What Hong Kong is lacking is, perhaps, the right spiritual values or attitude.

An English proverb says, "Do not throw out the baby with the bath water". But Hong Kong appears to be playing with the idea of discarding them both.

In other tourist centers around the world, no politician would dare to curb the number of tourists visiting. Any restrictions would be not only unworkable, but self-defeating, creating more problems than it would solve.

There would be many adverse effects on Hong Kong if fewer tourists came. There would be an increase in our unemployment rate and a decrease in production for industries catering to tourists. Tourism is one of four key industries in Hong Kong. Our reputation as a free port, which is guaranteed by the Basic Law, would also be hurt.

The mainland has provided a fine example in showing that many problems can be resolved by further economic development. This philosophy has worked in the mainland for over three decades. I believe the IVS is another aspect of the mainland's economic miracle. Instead of complaining about it, I prefer to think of the many economic opportunities it can continue to bring to Hong Kong.

Such opportunities include speeding up the refurbishment of industrial buildings for commercial use; building new shopping malls near the border; developing hotels in different locations; improving infrastructure; and building new tourist attractions. But most importantly, our attitude towards our fellow countrymen needs to change.

So far we have never had a government bureau dedicated to decision-making, policy-planning, or coordinating work among the various governmental departments with reference to tourism. I suggested years ago that such a bureau be set up and headed by a principal official. I hope the present government will still take up this idea.

The author is a HK veteran commentator and professor at the Research Center of Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law, Shenzhen University.

(HK Edition 06/09/2014 page1)

主站蜘蛛池模板: 亚洲经典三级 | 成人毛片免费观看视频 | 中文字幕毛片 | 亚洲精品久久久中文字 | 一男一女的一级毛片 | 美国亚洲成年毛片 | 国产亚洲精彩视频 | 一级片www| 日本视频在线免费播放 | 国产aⅴ一区二区三区 | 亚洲精品久久久中文字 | 午夜亚洲国产成人不卡在线 | 美女视频永久黄网站在线观看 | 狠狠综合久久久综合 | 日韩一级大片 | 国产精品亚洲精品日韩已满 | 91香蕉国产线在线观看免费 | 欧美一级特黄刺激爽大片 | 欧美啪啪一级毛片 | 亚洲国产精品热久久2022 | 在线观看黄网 | 一级特黄牲大片免费视频 | 国产三级三级三级 | 亚洲高清中文字幕一区二区三区 | 欧美久草| 成人网18免费视频 | 国产高清一区二区三区免费视频 | 一级片网址 | 99久久www免费 | 亚洲一区免费视频 | 丝袜黄色片 | 亚洲在线精品 | 成人18免费入口 | 一级爱 | 三级视频网站 | 日本久久99 | 一个人看的www片免费视频中文 | 亚洲一级成人 | 亚洲一区二区三区不卡视频 | 国产欧美日韩图片一区二区 | 国产精品爱久久久久久久9999 |