MOTION ON “PROMOTING RURAL TOURISM”
President, I am deeply grateful to Mr CHAN Hok-fung for proposing this motion. Hong Kong, as an international metropolis, is known for its towering skyscrapers and dazzling prosperity, which have taken root in the hearts of the people. Yet within this land where every inch of space is precious, it possesses remarkably rich rural resources.
Forty percent of Hong Kong’s land area is comprised of country parks and special areas, along with a 5 000-ha UNESCO Global Geopark, which is only about an hour’s drive from the city centre. This truly represents a unique advantage. With tourism becoming a pillar of the economy in many regions worldwide, Hong Kong should make good use of these unique green resources and unlock the tourism potential outside urban areas.
To align with the new normal in tourism, the current-term Government has actively adjusted its strategies. In last year’s Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots to strengthen cross-departmental collaboration and promote in-depth tourism and characteristic tourism, which is commendable. Promoting rural tourism is an important part of realizing Hong Kong’s vision of “tourism is everywhere”. It can not only alleviate the pressure on urban areas that are overly concentrated with visitors but also provide tourists from nearby regions with new options, allowing them to experience nature in depth and savour relaxed, slow-paced lifestyles in Hong Kong during weekends. Places such as Lai Chi Wo, Tai O Water Town, and the Ping Shan Heritage Trail in the New Territories offer a harmonious blend of natural landscapes and cultural history, offering tourists profound cultural experiences. The “small yet beautiful” development model exemplified by these areas holds strong potential for promotion and replication. The Government should proactively spearhead cross-departmental collaboration, working alongside rural offices to develop representative and sustainable themed tourism routes based on ecological restoration and conservation. This would ensure that rural tourism is not merely an option for sightseeing but also becomes a vital carrier of Hong Kong’s natural and cultural values. Concurrently, professional docents should be trained to further enhance the service quality, thereby achieving the dual-win objective of ecological protection and economic development.
Hong Kong’s rural areas are not merely natural oases but also serve as an ecological museum that carries our traditional rituals and craftsmanship. The Government can leverage this advantage by encouraging local community participation and adopting a “tourism plus” model to guide the development of in-depth experiential tourism. For instance, study tours and rural tourism could be developed to drive activities such as agricultural product processing and handicraft making, thereby enriching the experience content to attract and retain visitors. On the development model for rural attractions, the Government should actively introduce private capital participation, which is already being considered and explored by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. We should pursue more public-private partnerships. Concurrently, clear rules need to be established requiring investors to submit detailed development plans. This ensures that projects are guided by eco-tourism and environmental education as their core orientation, avoiding excessive commercialization or turning the projects into closed-off private profit-making projects. For instance, in areas with potential, the Government could take the lead in land planning and infrastructure development, followed by private enterprises injecting capital and providing professional operational management. Both parties would share profits and risks, thereby ensuring the sustainable advancement of such projects.
However, all developments should be premised on the carrying capacity of resources and the environment. Earlier, Honourable colleagues have mentioned the hope of achieving sustainable and responsible utilization. The recent overcrowding of tourists and coral trampling during snorkelling activities on Sharp Island in Sai Kung reflects the need for the authorities to strengthen their forward-looking planning and management concepts. Proactive measures should be taken, such as introducing a reservation system and implementing overall visitor controls at attractions with limited carrying capacity. Only then can ecological disturbances be minimized. Infrastructure is also the most crucial safeguard for the development of rural tourism. On the one hand, the Government should increase investment in rural infrastructure, including transportation, accommodation, catering and sanitation, to improve the hardware for rural tourism. On the other hand, supporting tourism facilities should also be enhanced, such as car parks, visitor service centres, and signage systems that incorporate multiple languages, thereby improving their service quality and enhancing visitor satisfaction.
President, rural tourism policies should not be handled in isolation. Rural tourism should genuinely become a dual engine of development alongside Hong Kong’s traditional tourism offerings. I support the original motion and all the amendments.
I so submit. Thank you, President.