Beijing should allow mainland Chinese to visit Hong Kong more easily, increase duty-free goods quota, Starry Lee says

Starry Lee, city’s sole delegate to nation’s top legislative body, calls for return of multiple-entry permit scheme for Shenzhen residents

But some cast doubt on economic impact of tourist number increases and proposal to raise duty-free goods allowance to 30,000 yuan

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Tourists at the Avenue of Stars. Between December 20 and 29, the city recorded 1.24 million arrivals of mainland and overseas visitors. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 6:11pm, 30 Dec 2023Updated: 10:01pm, 30 Dec 2023

The central government should allow mainland Chinese to visit Hong Kong more easily and increase the duty-free goods allowance to 30,000 yuan (US$4,235) to spur flagging retail sales, according to the city’s sole delegate to the nation’s top legislative body.

But an economist said an increase in the number of visitors from across the border was unlikely to offset a drop in local spending as Hongkongers headed north, while a retailer feared that simply enlarging the duty-free allowance might not be enough to ease concerns among mainland shoppers over enforcement by customs.

Starry Lee Wai-king, a member of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, on Saturday revealed her proposal as Hongkongers visited the mainland for the long weekend to celebrate the New Year holiday period and take advantage of shopping and leisure activities.

“I believe that we have different policy priorities at different times, and I believe everyone agrees that economic development is now our top priority,” Lee said at a press conference.

Starry Lee at a press conference on Saturday. She says small- and medium-sized business will benefit most from increased visitor numbers. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hongkongers made more than 3.2 million outbound trips between December 20 and 29. Over the same period, the city recorded 1.24 million arrivals of mainland and overseas visitors, despite Christmas not being a public holiday across the border and in many Asian countries.