CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland
The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau convened a meeting today (January 23) to co-ordinate the preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (February 15 to 23).
The meeting was chaired by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, with representatives from government departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Customs, the Transport Department, and various District Offices attending. Representatives from various tourism-related organisations including the Travel Industry Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, major tourist attractions and the hotel industry also attended.
Miss Law said, "We are approaching the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, and various districts in Hong Kong will host a variety of festive events to create a rich New Year ambience for residents and visitors. We estimate a notable increase in visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year Golden Week. Relevant departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will maintain close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to make early preparation and planning with a view to providing a high-quality travel experience for visitors, allowing them to enjoy Hong Kong's unique festive atmosphere."
Relevant parties will continue to maintain close communication before the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland to plan and take forward various preparations for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong and report the latest situation in a timely manner to the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration.
CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video)
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, met the media today (April 3), after observing the implementation of the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount" on the first day at Tiu Keng Leng Station Public Transport Interchange. Following are Mr Sun's remarks at the media session:
Reporter: How do you evaluate the first-day roll-out of the scheme, and how do you address the fact that some elderly are not comprehensively understanding the whole implementation?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Today, 3rd of April, is the date when the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount" is officially launched. For minibuses and for buses, the launch time was midnight today. For the MTR, it started from its first train which departed the terminal at 5.30am this morning.
So far, based on our territory-wide promotion, and also my own personal contact with the elderly through my visit to Wong Tai Sin including a public market and a restaurant, most of them are familiar with the operation of the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount". They know the operation is very straightforward, for any fare that is at $10 or below, they still just need to pay $2. For fare that is over $10, the elderly just bare 20 per cent of the cost, and the rest of the fare will be borne by the Government. I gave them an example, for a bus fare that charges an adult for $15, the elderly people with JoyYou card would only have to pay $3, i.e. 20 per cent of the fare.
So, apart from today, we are also going to step up our promotion through television, radio and posters which have been posted all around Hong Kong. Also, as you can see, in 75 spots in Hong Kong, we are stationing the ambassadors for a total of three weeks. They are in the spots to help answer questions about the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount". Apart from that, we have had the support of district councillors, Care Team members, and also staff of our welfare NGOs (non-governmental organisations). They are using their own ways to explain the operation of the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount". We are pretty confident that the scheme is now being launched smoothly, and for those who will be using the new arrangement, they know about the operation.
Thank you very much.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
