GBA outperforms HK in catering and retailing, LegCo Member says

Shenzhen and its neighboring cities in the Greater Bay Area have made great progress in catering and retailing as well as in urban planning, leaving Hong Kong behind, Legislative Council Member Lai Tung-kwok said today (April 25).

"While a large number of Hong Kong people go to the Mainland for dining and shopping, Mainland tourists tend to visit Hong Kong for in-depth tours with low spending," Lai noted, "just like a situation where one advances whilst the other one falls behind."

Lai believes that the government should face the core of the problem and improve the level of service.

"Otherwise, no matter how many mega events are organized, tourists will still be dissatisfied with their shopping and dining experience, leading to an opposite effect. Not only will they not return to Hong Kong, but they will also advise their friends and relatives to think twice before coming to our city," he added.

On how to revive Hong Kong's market, Lai pointed out that one of the reasons for the big wave of people going north to cross the boundary is the unprecedented convenience of going north in "an hour's living area" of GBA, but in fact, it also helps mainland tourists to come to Hong Kong, and as long as Hong Kong has its attraction, there should be no worry about business.