Hong Kong receives influx of inland holidaymakers

From tech-driven interactions to coastal and mountain hiking and in-depth sightseeing, Hong Kong tourism is being revitalized with fresh ideas during the five-day May Day holiday.

The May Day holiday, running from May 1 to 5, is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year. During this time, millions of Chinese travelers hit the road to visit family, explore domestic destinations, or venture abroad.

The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government estimated that about 980,000 mainland tourists will visit Hong Kong during the holiday, a year-on-year increase of around 7 percent.

During the five-day holiday, many shopping malls in Hong Kong offer special promotions. A mall in Sha Tin has transformed its pop-up store into an immersive "coffee farm," gathering lifestyle goods and creative items in one place, with long queues forming at the entrance. Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay are equally bustling, with jewelry shops and trendy brand stores seeing long lines of customers.

A full slate of concerts and exhibitions displays Hong Kong's position as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures.

At the former Yau Ma Tei police station, tourists pose for photos. The ongoing "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition allows visitors to step inside the historical building and relive classic scenes from Hong Kong police dramas.

New experiences such as hiking, seaside trips and self-driving tours are rapidly broadening Hong Kong's tourism appeal. According to industry observers, more people are focusing on Hong Kong's unique natural scenery and geological features, doubling the scale of eco-tourism from last year.

On the first day of the May Day holiday, direct buses from the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai boundary control point at Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary to the start of Hong Kong's MacLehose Trail were nearly full. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the HKSAR government reported heavy crowds at the east dam of High Island Reservoir.

The rise of eco-tourism has boosted surrounding businesses. Seafood restaurants near a pier in Sai Kung are packed, and their holiday turnover is expected to rise by 30 percent from normal days.

With Hong Kong's Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme, self-driving tours from Guangdong have gained popularity. A drive from Guangzhou to downtown Hong Kong now takes only about 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, according to a proposal from a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council, the city is expected to further improve cross-border transport connections, introducing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area travel passes, and jointly promote tourism with neighboring cities to enhance the overall appeal of regional tourism.

Hong Kong receives influx of inland holidaymakers

China on Tuesday said a reported tool being pushed by some European Union (EU) member states is a typical example of protectionism and unilateralism that would disrupt bilateral trade and the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce responded to a media inquiry regarding reports that some EU member states are preparing a joint document calling on the European Commission to accelerate the development of a so-called European "301" tool and take tougher measures against China.

The tool referenced in the reports would not resolve any issues and could even backfire, the spokesperson said, noting that the EU itself was once a victim of such measures.

As an important member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the EU has long presented itself as a defender of multilateralism. If it fails to set an example and instead takes the lead in violating WTO rules, it would seriously undermine the rules-based multilaterl trading system, the spokesperson said.

China and the EU are currently engaged in dialogue under their trade and investment consultation mechanism and are exploring methods to address each other's concerns, according to the spokesperson.

If the EU engages in dialogue and consultation with China while at the same time stepping up pressure against China, it would seriously damage mutual trust, disrupt the overall consultation process and affect broader China-EU economic and trade cooperation, the spokesperson said.

China called on the EU to stay on the right track of managing differences through dialogue.

China will closely follow the EU's subsequent moves, the spokesperson said, adding that if the EU insists on introducing discriminatory and restrictive measures targeting Chinese companies or products, China will respond firmly to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese industries.

China says reported European '301' tool typical act of protectionism, unilateralism