HK Chief Executive calls for forbearance towards mainland tourists

Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung delivers his annual policy address to the city's Legislative Council, Hong Kong, China, 14 January 2015. [Photo/IC]

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is calling for patience with the growing number of tourists coming from the Chinese mainland.

Speaking ahead of an Executive Council meeting, Leung said the rising number of tourists has added pressure to certain districts.

However, he stressed that Hong Kong is a peaceful society where the law is upheld and no one would like to see the commotions happened in the past few weeks in the New Territories, referring to the protests against mainland parallel traders.

He said this will not do any good to the society's image and economy.

Leung hoped that local people could be patient with the issue, which the special administrative region has reflected it to the central government.

Hong Kong's Travel Industry Council has estimated that the total number of tourists this year could drop by up to 50 percent due to anti-parallel trader protests directed at mainlanders.