Hongkongers should be innovative and capitalise on all beneficial measures presented by Beijing, the chief executive has said, while brushing aside calls to push for a further increase in the duty-free shopping limit for mainland Chinese tourists visiting the city.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday that the city should accept the changes it faced amid the economic transition and not just rely on its existing advantages.
“Our previous successes mean we can build and make success ourselves,” he said. “We cannot rest on our own laurels.”
Beijing announced on Monday that it would offer Hong Kong a pair of giant pandas and a five-year travel permit for its permanent residents holding foreign passports to enter the mainland, as part of celebrations marking the 27th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule.
The duty-free threshold for mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong was also raised from 5,000 yuan (US$688) per trip to a maximum of 15,000 yuan on Monday, but drew a lukewarm response from travellers.
Some said it was not as attractive as the 100,000 yuan annual limit for the country’s southern province of Hainan.
Asked whether he would fight for a higher limit, Lee said the increase was achieved “after a lot of efforts” by different ministries of the central government, adding it was important for the city to utilise it first.
“It is important for us, Hong Kong people, government included, of course, to capitalise [and] make good use [of] all the different measures and ensure that they realise their best potentials,” he said.
Lee called on different sectors to give visitors good experiences during their stay in Hong Kong.
“I urge everybody to think of innovative ways to capitalise on the new measures that have been offered to Hong Kong,” he said.
Lee also said the series of beneficial measures Beijing offered would create an amplification effect and benefit Hong Kong as a whole.
