Plan A 'big Bang' Sales To Lure Visitors: Regina Ip

Executive councillor and New People’s Party’s chairwoman Regina Ip has urged the Tourism Board to organise a "big bang" sale week with the cooperation of retailers in Hong Kong to attract tourists back to the city when the coronavirus situation improves.

Speaking at a meeting of Legco’s panel on economic development, Ip said she was offering her advice as “someone who loves shopping”. She said a major 'big sale' gimmick would be more successful than anything done in “dribs and drabs”.

"I've never stopped shopping,” said Ip. “For ladies when we shop, we want variety, we want a lot of brand names … we want value for money,” she added.

“Hong Kong is expensive. Shopping in Hong Kong is actually more expensive than shopping in Europe,” said the pro-Beijing lawmaker, noting that many retailers are now offering discount coupons to attract customers.

"When the boutiques called me, I also entertained them", she said.

“Will you be talking with the retail association to produce, let’s say big bangs on certain week where all brand names will be giving discounts?” she asked the board officials.

Dane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, listened appreciatively to Ip’s suggestion and said the board will consider it.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, who attended the meeting, told the media that the enactment of a national security law would ease the minds of business people in Hong Kong as it will make the city “stable and safe”.

He dismissed concerns over a possible adverse effect on the business environment in Hong Kong.

Yau said officials would explain to business chambers about the proposed law and its benefits.