Border crossings to open longer over Lunar New Year
Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said two border checkpoints - Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay - will operate longer hours over the Lunar New Year. Speaking to reporters before the weekly Executive Council, Lee said Shenzhen Bay will be open 24 hours a day from February 9 to 13 - from Lunar New Year's Eve to the fourth day of the new year - for both vehicles and people to cross the border. Lo Wu will be open two hours longer until 2am on February 9 and 11, with the connecting East Rail Line extending services on these two days. Lee said he is thankful to Shenzhen for agreeing to the arrangements in a short period of time. The CE said the government is sparing no efforts to boost tourism, and that there is no question about Hong Kong's attractiveness. "Figures are going up in retail and in tourism. That shows we're achieving results in boosting tourism. As we get more of our capacity back, we'll see further increases in inbound visitor numbers," he said. The CE said he hopes to discuss with legislators during a question and answer session on Thursday how to host more mega events in the SAR to attract more tourists, as well as how to enhance their experience in Hong Kong.