Chief Secretary Eric Chan on Saturday unveiled a slate of free and discounted offerings to encourage locals and tourists alike to open their wallets and spend big during Hong Kong’s upcoming National Day celebrations.
Trams, cross-harbor ferries, government museums, and sports facilities will all be free of charge as part of the 75th anniversary festivities for the People’s Republic of China on October 1. Most MTR subway lines will offer 25% discounts, while restaurants and shopping malls are also getting in on the act with their own promotional deals.
“We hope more people can consume in Hong Kong,” Chan said on a local radio program. “No matter whether you are a tourist or a local, you can enjoy the discounts.”
The push to drive spending comes as mainland Chinese visitors are cutting back, with the average trip to Hong Kong now costing around HK$5,000 per person – a sharp drop from last year’s HK$7,000 average.
“We invite mainland tourists to participate in our series of celebrations, to experience the atmosphere in Hong Kong and go to different attractions,” Chan said, expressing hope the promotions will lure more visitors from across the border.
Beyond the consumer enticements, Chan stressed the importance of Hong Kong aligning its development with China’s national priorities, particularly in the realms of innovation and technology. He said the city must retain its status as a global finance and aviation hub while also transforming into an innovation center, which “is in line with China’s development.”
“And when we develop technology, we need talent,” Chan added, nodding to Beijing’s focus on electric vehicles, drones, and homegrown aircraft as examples of the technological advancement underway.
The flurry of freebies and discounts, coupled with Chan’s emphasis on syncing Hong Kong’s trajectory with China’s, underscores the delicate balance the city is trying to strike amid ongoing geopolitical tensions with the United States and Western nations wary of China’s rise.
