Hong Kong leader John Lee said on Thursday he would replace two senior officials in an unexpected move to maximize social and economic benefits and help the city “catch up” with other tourism destinations.
Hong Kong has struggled to revive its appeal among international tourists in 2019 following sometimes violent public protests and strict travel regulations imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before deciding to replace Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary Kevin Yeung and Transport and Logistics Secretary Lam Sai-hong, Lee told reporters at a press conference that he had been “observing the situation for a long time”.
“We went through the pandemic, the protests in 2019, we need to catch up. I want to create the greatest social and economic benefits for Hong Kong,” Lee said.
Mabel Chan will take over as transport secretary, while Rosanna Law will be the new sports, culture and tourism secretary, Lee said. Both women have worked in the government for more than 30 years.
“We always strive to do better,” Lee added. “The two new secretaries will make good use of their leadership and ability to articulate policies clearly.”
The government is trying to attract international visitors by organizing various sports and cultural programs as well as big conferences.
Authorities have planned a large-scale panda carnival from December 11 to 21 to make use of the six pandas currently living in the city’s theme parks. Two were born in Hong Kong earlier this year, while Beijing loaned two more to the city in September.
According to the latest government data, about 36.68 million tourists visited Hong Kong in the 10 months to the end of October 2024. Officials expect 46 million arrivals this year.
The numbers remain below the highs seen before the protests and the pandemic. In 2018, more than 65 million arrivals were recorded in Hong Kong.