'After HK Road Signs, Red Tourism Could Be Next Hit'

The government says it will look into whether Hong Kong can be promoted as a "red tourism" destination to attract mainlanders to visit historical sites linked to the Communist Party.

Lawmaker Lau Chi-pang put forward the idea at a Legco meeting, noting that recent visitors to the territory have been showing "diverse interests", including taking photos holding up items they have bought from McDonald's as they stand next to signs for MacDonnell Road.

Lau said another attraction for mainlanders could be visiting places in Hong Kong where Communist Party officials have themselves visited.

“Political figures and important personnel from the mainland were here in Hong Kong in the past for a while or only in transit. We should track their path in Hong Kong in the past,” Lau said.

In response, undersecretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Raistlin Lau said the authorities are striving to provide tourists with more experiences and the lawmaker's idea is worth considering.

"While the country has not designated Hong Kong as a hub for such a tourism experience, we have important historical figures that were in Hong Kong in the past and they had good stories in Hong Kong. So we will explore further details," he said.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Jeffrey Lam raised concerns that mainlanders on tour groups might not be telling good stories about Hong Kong after they return home.

He suggested some tourists might not like arrangements whereby they are taken to the same restaurant again and again for their meals.

“We want to tell good stories of Hong Kong. How can we ensure that these tour group members will tell good stories of Hong Kong upon returning to the mainland?” Lam asked.

But Raistlin Lau dismissed the concerns, saying the arrangements for tour groups very much depend on how much they are willing to pay for their trips.

The official added that more than 450 mainland tour groups came to Hong Kong during the recent "golden week" and the Travel Industry Council received zero complaints regarding forced shopping.

The council was, however, looking into reports that tour guides asked mainland visitors to smuggle in cigarettes, the undersecretary said.