Cap on Shenzhen visitors 'won't have big impact'

Limiting Shenzhen residents to an average of one visit to Hong Kong per week would only serve to test the waters for a cap on mainland visitor numbers rather than having a big impact in itself, lawmakers said yesterday.

They were responding to unconfirmed reports that a limit of 52 trips per year on holders of multiple-entry permits had been raised at a meeting between Hong Kong officials on Monday.

"A cap of 52 trips will have little impact, only stopping some parallel-goods traders from coming," said Michael Tien Puk-sun of the New People's Party, in reference to traders who buy goods in Hong Kong for resale across the border. But he said the move could be an important first step in limiting visitor numbers.

The stock market reacted calmly to the report in a Chinese-language newspaper yesterday - in contrast to earlier claims that mainland visitor numbers could be cut by 20 per cent, which hit retail and property shares.

Commerce minister Greg So Kam-leung met officials of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing on Monday to discuss limits to mainland visitors numbers amid rising public concern over the tourist influx. The rapid growth in tourism has led to concerns about overcrowding and competition for goods.

The talks included the multiple-entry permit scheme, but the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau did not confirm details of the possible cap.