Adhering to the need to 'put Hong Kong people first' in formulating policies (2013/10/30)

Deputy President, with the continuous development of the global economy and enhanced convenience in transport, most countries in the world are relaxing their immigration restrictions, and it is an irreversible trend that demographic movements are speeding up. Apart from a few closed territories, any free, civilized and open economies will not, for no reasons, restrict normal immigration, travelling and exchange activities. Owing to the differences in the level of liberalization, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles, as well as verbal expression among people of different places, when there is a large number of incoming visitors, they may inevitably affect our daily lives and it is a problem faced by an open society. Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city known for its openness and the Government has all along promoted a hospitable culture. The vast majority of people agree that Hong Kong should be a city of hospitability. Some Members however have always made discriminatory comments against the Mainlanders, giving people the impression that Hong Kong is going against the global trend by selectively restricting the entry of Mainlanders, pushing Hong Kong into the dead end of self-protection and self-closure.

As we all know, since the Mainland began to reform and open up, its economy has taken off rapidly. Apart from meeting the basic daily needs of 1.3 billion people, the country has a great demand for travelling. According to the statistics published by China Tourism Academy, 72.55 million people departed from the Mainland in the first three quarters of 2013, an increase of 18% as compared to the previous year. The amount spent was US$94.6 billion, an increase of 23.1% as compared to the previous year. The World Tourism Organization stated that China has become the world's biggest exporter of tourists. More and more countries and territories welcome the visits of Mainlanders, in the hope of tapping on this enormous market. Even Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States which have somewhat distrusted China are now adjusting their immigration policies to welcome tourists from the
Mainland with open arms.

Hong Kong leverages on the Mainland for support and the exchange between the two places has continued to increase before and after the reunification. The concessionary policies Hong Kong has been enjoying under the framework of the Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) are unmatched by any other countries or places. However, recently some people have played up the conflicts between China and Hong Kong and laid the blame on the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) introduced by the Mainland. They are in fact putting the horse before the cart. The main problem lies in the lack of planning by the Government, leading to insufficient tourism facilities to effectively divert the tourists and as a result the daily lives of the residents are affected. Therefore, we should not discriminate against our Mainland compatriots. On the contrary, we should put forward constructive solutions and welcome visitors from the Mainland as well as from all other places in the world in a tolerant and hospitable manner.

Deputy President, China is a vast territory with abundant resources. There are great gaps between city and rural dwellers and people of different places have very different habits and customs. The uncivilized behaviours of some Mainland visitors have indeed attracted strong criticisms and the Mainland authorities are aware of these problems and they have conducted constant reviews. The Tourism Law of the People's Republic of China that came into effect on 1 October has made specified requirements, urging the people to respect the local customs and cultures when travelling abroad. Hong Kong has been open to the world for a long time. As Hong Kong people have the same roots as the Mainlanders, we should guide and educate the Mainland visitors in a friendly manner. We are unknowingly influencing the Mainlanders with our civilized behaviours such as waiting in line for various means of transportation, not littering and speaking politely. Our Mainland friends whom we have close contact with always praise the behaviour of Hong Kong people and I believe that they have brought these positive messages back and spread them widely to different places. As a matter of fact, we can see that the manners of the residents of many big cities, especially the Pearl River Delta Region, are improving. Hong Kong has indeed made a positive impact on them through publicity and education.

Deputy President, as Members, how should we handle the recent conflicts between China and Hong Kong? Should we passively call Mainland visitors "locusts" and "people of the strong nation", inciting conflicts between the two laces with exaggerated and satirical remarks, and even calling upon the Government to restrict the entry of Mainlanders by administrative means? Or should we positively resolve the problem in an objective and pragmatic manner in response to what are happening?

A few months ago, two Legislative Council Members and several District Council members of To Kwa Wan constituency, from both the pan-democratic and pro-establishment camps, called for my help to solve the problem of 

Deputy President, I so submit.