Starry Lee Calls for Loosening Travel Barriers from Mainland China to Reinvigorate Hong Kong Tourism

Victoria – As Hong Kong continues working to revitalize its tourism industry battered by the pandemic, politician Starry Lee proposes easing entry restrictions from mainland China to inject new life into the struggling sector.

Lee, Hong Kong’s sole delegate to China’s National People’s Congress, advocates reinstating multiple-entry permits allowing Shenzhen residents to freely visit the city. She also wants to raise the duty-free allowance for Chinese tourists from the current 8,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan ($4,300) to encourage shopping sprees.

Proponents believe relaxing mainland travel limits provides a quick spark to reactivate tourism amid Hong Kong’s drawn-out economic recovery. “I hope relevant measures can be rolled out as soon as possible to give the tourism industry a shot in the arm,” Lee commented. Yet some experts cast doubts on the economic impacts, arguing higher tourist volumes may not compensate for lower per-person spending compared to pre-pandemic levels. Critics also cite sustainability concerns around shopping-fueled tourism.

As Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the National People’s Congress, Lee possesses significant influence advocating policies to Beijing. In 2021, her proposal to overhaul electoral systems paved the way for the current “patriots only” model.

Now Lee leverages her platform to call for opening borders with a top source market. Mainland arrivals to Hong Kong plunged since 2020’s political unrest and COVID curbs. Though restrictions finally eased in September 2022, visitors remain a fraction of pre-pandemic volumes.

While debate continues around Lee’s proposed quick fixes, Hong Kong’s battered tourism industry desperately seeks a catalyst. Whether Beijing acts on advice to remove remaining hindrances preventing mainlanders from flocking freely to Hong Kong again may shape the sector’s outlook.