More departures than arrivals in Hong Kong as ‘golden week’ kicks off
Many mainland visitors spotted at scenic High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung as Labour Day break begins
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, with many inbound visitors favouring sightseeing, shopping and hiking.
As of 9pm on Thursday, more than 213,000 mainland tourists had flocked to Hong Kong while nearly 282,000 residents had left for other destinations.
The West Kowloon terminus for the high-speed rail link was packed with visitors from across the border on Thursday morning, with some coming in for day trips while others planned 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, where police and staff from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department were deployed to maintain order.
Among those travelling via high-speed trains was primary school teacher Jill Yao, who arrived at the terminus at around 10am after a 1½-hour journey from Guangzhou city.
The 42-year-old said she would be Hong Kong for two days with her husband, two sons, aged 13 and seven, and her parents-in-law, before heading to Macau.