Hong Kong’s John Lee will urge Beijing to add more mainland Chinese cities to solo traveller scheme

Chief Executive John Lee says he will call on Beijing to allow residents from more mainland Chinese cities to visit, as he targets high-spending arrivals to boost economy

Xian and Qingdao were added to Individual Visit Scheme earlier this year, which already covered 49 mainland cities

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Hong Kong is expected to welcome at least 800,000 mainland Chinese visitors over the Labour Day “golden week” holiday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:46pm, 30 Apr 2024Updated: 7:03pm, 30 Apr 2024

Hong Kong’s leader will urge Beijing to allow residents from more mainland Chinese cities to visit by further expanding a solo traveller scheme which he has said will boost the economy and the tourism sector.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday authorities were ready for the Labour Day “golden week” holiday, vowing to inform the public as soon as possible over any changes to a major pyrotechnics display amid the unstable weather.

The city is expected to welcome at least 800,000 mainland visitors over the break, which begins on Wednesday.

Lee said his administration was targeting big spenders in its efforts to lure tourists from across the border and he would call on mainland authorities to add more cities to an individual visitor scheme that was expanded earlier this year.

“I will continue to report on Hong Kong’s situation to the central government, as well as discuss and actively fight for more measures that benefit and support Hong Kong,” he said.

“In particular, I will be fighting for more mainland cities to be opened up for individual visits to Hong Kong, so we can allow more high-spending mainland compatriots to come to the city.”