Hong Kong Welcomed 1.77 Million Visitors During Successful Chinese New Year Golden Week

Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong surge during Chinese New Year holidays

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (February 24) announced that the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (February 15 to 23) concluded smoothly yesterday. According to the Immigration Department (ImmD), around 1.77 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong over the Golden Week, representing an increase of 14 per cent over the same period last year. Mainland inbound visitors accounted for around 1.5 million, representing an increase of 14 per cent. The number of non-Mainland inbound visitors was around 270 000, also representing an increase of 14 per cent.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Chan said, "During this Chinese New Year Golden Week, Hong Kong was filled with a festive atmosphere, with residents and visitors alike participating in a wide array of celebratory activities, including the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade on the first day of the Chinese New Year, the fireworks display on the second day, the Chinese New Year Raceday on the third day, and the Chinese New Year Cup football match on the fifth day. These diverse and enriching events were well received by both residents and visitors, not only creating a joyous atmosphere throughout the city but also effectively attracting crowds, stimulating consumption, and bringing opportunities to various industries such as retail, catering and tourism, showcasing Hong Kong's vibrant and welcoming metropolitan charm."

Visitor flow, situation at control points, and traffic and public transport arrangements

During the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week, the daily average of Mainland visitors was around 170 000. The arrival of Mainland visitors peaked on February 18 (the second day of Chinese New Year) with around 210 000 Mainland visitors arriving in Hong Kong. During the Golden Week, the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point.

Photo source: reference image

To cope with the increased passenger flow during the Chinese New Year Golden Week, relevant departments deployed additional manpower and operated additional counters and channels to facilitate passenger and vehicular flows. The Security Bureau activated the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre during the holidays to closely monitor and co-ordinate public order across various districts, including various boundary control points (BCPs). The overall operation of the control points and traffic were smooth and orderly.

Overall traffic conditions were generally smooth during the Golden Week. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) operates round the clock to holistically monitor traffic conditions and public transport services across the territory, including BCPs, major stations and various tourist hotspots. The TD steered local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to enhance their carrying capacity by increasing the frequency of bus services connecting land-based BCPs and strengthening cross-boundary coach services to meet passenger demand. PTOs also deployed additional staff to maintain order and reserved sufficient vehicles and manpower to further enhance services when necessary.

Mega events and major tourist attractions

The Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade on the first day of the Chinese New Year drew many residents and visitors, while the Chinese New Year Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour on the second day of the Chinese New Year attracted over 360 000 residents and visitors. The race day on the third day of Chinese New Year also attracted over 20 000 visitors to experience the unique atmosphere of horse racing tourism of Hong Kong.

The Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade, Photo source: the Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Chinese New Year Fireworks Display, Photo source: reference image

The race day, Photo source: the Hong Kong Jockey Club

Visitors went to different parts of Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year Golden Week, with high visitor flows observed at major tourist attractions including the West Kowloon Cultural District, Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, the Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360. Smooth and effective crowd management measures were implemented.

Regarding popular attractions in the Sai Kung East Country Park, various departments managed the increased number of visitors during the Chinese New Year Golden Week according to the measures devised beforehand. In the area of the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, the Police implemented traffic control measures as needed; the TD co-ordinated with the minibus operator to increase the service frequency of Route 9A (Pak Tam Chung - East Dam of High Island Reservoir); the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) published visitor flow information of the East Dam via its "Enjoy Hiking" website and strengthened cleaning services. The AFCD has also erected additional barriers and warning signs at the Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform, and deployed patrol staff during the Chinese New Year Golden Week holiday as planned, to urge visitors to pay attention to safety.

As for the campsites at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan, the AFCD implemented a management plan formulated before the Chinese New Year Golden Week holiday. This included providing additional large waste collection bins during the period, arranging daily campsite cleaning and bin clearances, deploying staff as planned for patrols and reminding campers of camping etiquette and regulations. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department arranged toilet attendants to be on duty daily at the Ham Tin public toilet. The AFCD also strengthened enforcement against illegal activities. During the Golden Week, there were a total of 32 enforcement cases along Sections 1 and 2 of the MacLehose Trail and at designated campsites nearby, including campsites at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan. These cases involved offences such as littering and illegal use of fire outside designated barbecue areas or campsites. There were no instances of severe damage occurring at the aforementioned popular attractions and campsites within the Sai Kung East Country Park during the Golden Week. Traffic in the East Dam area was also generally smooth. The AFCD will review its long-term management strategies in light of the Golden Week experience, including the introduction of reservation and fee-charging mechanisms to better manage visitor flows.

Inbound tour groups and hotel occupancy rates

In terms of Mainland inbound tour groups, around 2 400 Mainland inbound tour groups brought nearly 84 000 visitors to Hong Kong during the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week, with around 74 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries. The number of tour groups exceeded the record of last year's eight-day Chinese New Year Golden Week by 9 per cent. The tour groups were generally orderly. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90 per cent in general.

Mr Chan expressed gratitude to all relevant government departments, organisations, and industry partners for their collaborative efforts and close co-ordination in receiving visitors, providing citizens and visitors with a festive atmosphere, along with a warm, welcoming experience in Hong Kong, while celebrating the joyous, harmonious and vibrant Chinese New Year holidays.

Around 1.77 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong over the Golden Week. Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases