With residents from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen and other cities being allowed to visit Hong Kong on an individual basis, we finally see silver lining in our economy. The tourist boom has given fresh hope to hotels, retail businesses and the tourist industry. What lies ahead for the administration is to negotiate with the Central Authorities in extending the scheme in stages to different cities in the mainland, and step up infrastructure developments at the border, provide for more hotel rooms. It also needs to closely monitor illegal activities brought about by the tourist influx, such as the problem of illegal work and overstaying.
For tourism to become the main engine of growth, steps should be taken to develop more tourist attractions in Hong Kong. To this end, studies on developing the Lantau Islands into an "Asian-Pacific leisure centre" should be conducted. The natural scenery of the Islands makes it a perfect resort with leisure and entertainment activities. This, together with Disneyland to be opened in 2005, will make the Lantau Islands an Asian-Pacific tourist attraction.

At the same time, the administration has to upgrade the existing facilities for tourists. This include the setting up of an office to handle complaints from tourists and the conversion of a small part of the vacant Home Ownership Scheme flats into hostels for tourists to ease the shortage of hotel rooms. With government permission, vacant factories can be converted into "factory outlets", and can serve as a tourist attraction.
While the tourist boom may help stimulate the tourist industry, hotel and retail businesses, more long-term measures to revitalise the economy are needed. Cepa opens important windows of opportunity, and a host of industries and service industries in Hong Kong will benefit. Yet, to take advantage of the opportunity, a committee consisting of government officials, representatives of employers from industries, workers unions, political parties and academics should be formed to study strategies in reviving Hong Kong's industries. Hong Kong should take a three-pronged approach to boost Hong Kong's industries, including traditional industries, high-value, advanced technology industries and creative industry. The Democratic Party has called for an industrial zone to be developed along the border to provide value-added services and products, and Cepa provides an excellent opportunity for traditional industries to revive by bringing some specialised processes back to Hong Kong. This will hopefully bring back some industries to the territory, creating employment for the unskilled and semi-skilled workers who had been hit hardest by the economic fallout

YEUNG SUM

Chairman of the Democratic Party and a directly elected Legislative Councillor

2003-09-07 Letter to Hong Kong