Hong Kong reshuffles leadership in bid to boost tourism, economic growth

In a bold bid to reinvigorate Hong Kong global standing, Chief Executive John Lee announced the dismissal of two senior officials on Thursday, citing the need to “catch up” with other leading tourism destinations.

Kevin Yeung, secretary for culture, sports, and tourism, and Lam Sai-hung, secretary for transport and logistics, were replaced in a surprise reshuffle aimed at maximizing societal and economic benefits for the city.

“We have gone through the epidemic, protests in 2019—we need to catch up,” Lee stated at a press conference. “I want to create the biggest societal and economic benefit for Hong Kong. We strive to do better all the time.”

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Veteran government officials Mable Chan and Rosanna Law will take over as transport secretary and culture, sports, and tourism secretary, respectively. Lee expressed confidence in their abilities, noting, “The two new secretaries will make good use of their leadership and their ability to explain policies clearly.”

Hong Kong has been grappling with challenges to its tourism sector since the 2019 mass protests and the strict COVID-19 travel restrictions that followed. Despite efforts to rejuvenate the city’s allure with major cultural and sporting events, arrivals remain below pre-pandemic and pre-protest levels.

As part of its revival strategy, the government is organizing a large-scale panda carnival from December 11-21, showcasing six pandas, including two born locally this year and two loaned from Beijing in September.

Tourism figures show signs of recovery, with 36.68 million visitors recorded by October 2024. Authorities aim to reach 46 million arrivals by the end of the year, a figure that still pales in comparison to the record 65 million arrivals in 2018.

One local observer commented, “Lee’s reshuffle signals a clear intent to reset and refocus. But whether it will be enough to return Hong Kong to its former glory remains to be seen.”

Another tourism industry expert remarked, “The leadership change is timely, but success will hinge on sustained efforts to rebuild trust and attract international visitors who have drifted to rival destinations.”

The government remains optimistic that initiatives like the panda carnival and other high-profile events will help Hong Kong reclaim its reputation as a top global tourism hub.