Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries
Fourth Position Paper on Travel, Tourism and Hospitality

September 1996

1. This is the fourth position paper of the HKCSI on travel, tourism and hospitality, following the first three papers in which a number of subjects such as harbour reclamation, cruise liners and the new airport were referred to. In this paper, we wish to highlight two specific issues, namely, permanent residency status and visa requirement of the Special Administrative Region, and land use at Kai Tak after the relocation of the airport.

Permanent residency status of the Special Administrative Region

2. We appreciate the hard work by the Preparatory Committee on defining permanent residency status of the Special Administrative Region on which, to a large extent, the major principles have now been established and are by and large well understood. However, there is still some confusion over permanent residency status in relation to 1 July 1997, the date of the handover of sovereignty.
3. This confusion is significantly affecting the travel sector. This is because ordinary people have unfortunately developed the impression that a prerequisite to obtaining permanent residency status is to be physically in Hong Kong on 1 July 1997. Since the peak season for outbound travel starts in mid-June, that impression has become a deterrent to would-be travellers. As a result, a vacuum may be created for the travel sector during that period.
4. The travel industry fully understands that a large number of Hong Kong residents would like to be in the territory to witness the handover, and indeed the travel industry accepts that its business will naturally be affected as a result. Notwithstanding the temporary effects on its business, the travel industry is as keen as other sectors of Hong Kong to welcome and indeed celebrate the handover of sovereignty.
5. Despite this, it remains our view that travellers wishing to take their holidays in the beginning of the traditional summer peak (i.e. mid-June to mid-July) should not be discouraged from doing so by an uncertainty over their permanent residency status.
6. On the other side of the coin, inbound travel agents are also beginning to get enquiries from overseas travellers about possible visa requirements into the SAR. The ordinary traveller wants an assurance that the current no-visa arrangement will continue to apply after the handover, before they finalise their travel plans. In the interest of Hong Kong's tourism industries, any uncertainty or ambiguity in this regard should be removed.
7. We suggest that the possible confusion over 1 July 1997 and visa status of overseas travellers be clarified as soon as possible. As consumers typically decide on their travel plans some six months in advance, it will be important to clarify the situation and publicise to the public and the international travel sector well before the end of this year.

Kai tak after Chek Lap Kok

8. After the relocation of the airport to Chek Lap Kok, the Kai Tak site is likely to be re-developed together with reclamation of the larger Kowloon Bay area, in accordance with the Metroplan. Between the removal of the airport and before development takes place in a comprehensive manner in Kowloon Bay, there will be a space of some 24 months in which the present Kai Tak site may be open to temporary use. The Hong Kong Tourist Association has proposed that a mega Expo be held on the Kai Tak site to promote Hong Kong. We support this proposal and believe it will be a productive land use for the benefit of Hong Kong.
9. In the longer term, the Kai Tak site and the associated Kowloon Bay reclamation will be the biggest and most valuable piece of real estate in metro Hong Kong. There will be no other site in Hong Kong for which there will be the same degree of freedom to plan for the best land use pattern on such a large scale. Although a blueprint has been set forth in the Metroplan, the detailed land use has to be decided by subsequent outline zoning plans. Taking account of the importance of the site in the strategic context of Hong Kong, it is our view that there should be widespread consultation with industry over and above the provisions of the statutory planning process. For example, there should be a forum for the travel/tourism industry to be consulted and to provide input into the land use planning for the site, covering such aspects as the provision of hotels, the development of tourist attractions, and the design of harbour fronting land use.

(Ends)

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