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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994
TURNING TO THE PROPOSED $100 REDUCTION IN AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX, MR SIU SAID THIS WAS GOOD NEWS FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WHICH PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMY.
MANY VISITORS WILL MAKE USE OF THE MONEY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SPEND ON DEPARTURE TAX TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING.
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"WHILE SOME MONEY WILL BE LOST TO GENERAL REVENUE, IT WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE LOST TO THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, HE SAID.
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THE REDUCTION WILL ALSO HELP TO RELIEVE CONGESTION IN THE AIRSIDE DEPARTURE AREA AT KAI TAK BECAUSE LARGER NUMBERS OF TRANSFER PASSENGERS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT TEMPORARILY FOR SHOPPING OR SIGHTSEEING.
REGARDING THE CONTINUING STRONG GROWTH IN TOURIST ARRIVALS, PARTICULARLY FROM CHINA, MR SIU SAID THIS ARGUED FOR A CAREFUL REASSESSMENT OF HONG KONG'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO ABSORB EVER- INCREASING NUMBERS OF VISITORS.
HE LENT STRONG SUPPORT ΤΟ THE PROPOSAL BY THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION то CARRY OUT A CONSULTANCY STUDY ΤΟ EXAMINE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AND THE THREATS TO CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.
THE 12-MONTH STUDY WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BOTH ON HOW TO DEVELOP NEW TOURISM ATTRACTIONS AND ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT HOTEL ROOMS, AMENITIES AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE TO COPE WITH THE GROWING NUMBERS.
AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE STUDY WILL BE TO REVIEW DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER CO-OPERATION IN PROMOTING HONG KONG AND SOUTHERN CHINA AS JOINT TOURISM DESTINATIONS.
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA,
MR SIŲ SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL PORT AND AIRPORT FACILITIES IN CHINA WOULD STIMULATE AND REINFORCE GROWING BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL TIES, AS WELL AS TOURISM.
"COMPETITION CAN ONLY BE GOOD FOR HONG KONG; IT WILL KEEP US ON OUR TOES AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE WILL HOLD OUR OWN HE SAID.
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