MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): Apart from Hong Kong people, quite a number of overseas and Mainland tourists are interested in taking part in various cultural and arts activities held by LCSD. Recently, many of these activities were cancelled at short notice. This has significantly affected tourists because they had to book transport and arrange accommodation before coming to Hong Kong. If these activities are cancelled at short notice, they will suffer more losses compared with the local people.

 

May I ask the Secretary: Have you received any complaints from overseas visitors about cancellation of events at short notice in recent months? Furthermore, while the Secretary said just now that the public would be informed through press releases and web pages, tourists may not have access to such information. Has the Government considered other more effective ways to give advance notice to overseas or Mainland tourists who are preparing to come to Hong Kong? In doing so, we may help tourists reduce the loss that may be incurred as they will be spared the predicament of being informed of the cancellation of the events only after having arrived in Hong Kong.

 

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS (in Cantonese): President, as a normal practice, any information about early closure of LCSD venues will be broadcast through the media as soon as possible, and the information about the relevant time, venues, etc. will also be uploaded to the LCSD website. Of course, during the current extraordinary times, I believe that some arts groups will use other means, such as their websites, to provide an update on the latest situation. I hope that these channels will give tourists from different places access to the latest situation.

 

MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): I asked the Secretary just now if he had received any complaints from overseas tourists about the cancellation of events. The Secretary has not answered my question.

 

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS (in Cantonese): President, I do not have the relevant information on hand. I could provide Mr YIU with the information after the meeting.