Hong Kong logs more than 24,000 arrivals on New Year’s Eve

More than 24,000 visitors arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday morning for New Year’s Eve celebrations, with some from mainland China saying they would not stay overnight after the countdown due to steep hotel prices and the extended border opening hours.

By 10am on Tuesday, Hong Kong received 24,351 tourists, with 73.7 per cent, or 17,948, coming from the mainland.

Among mainland tourists, 3,772 entered the city via high-speed trains, contributing to the steady stream of people at West Kowloon station’s arrival hall. By contrast, the departure area was emptier.

Many arriving visitors the Post spoke to said they opted for a day trip in Hong Kong, including Huang Qahang, a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Chengdu.

“Some of the hotel rooms in Hong Kong are fairly expensive and it is difficult to book them during the New Year’s period. If you don’t book the rooms very early on, you won’t be able to get a room,” he said.

Huang added that this was his first trip to Hong Kong since the 1997 handover, and his main goal on Tuesday was to experience the city’s New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations, including the midnight fireworks.