New duty-free allowance for mainlanders in HK at all ports

The new policy to increase the duty-free allowance for Chinese tourists in Hong Kong and Macau, from 5,000 yuan to 12,000 yuan, has been implemented at all ports starting Thursday.

Moreover, the measure of allowing additional goods valued at 3,000 yuan purchased at border duty-free shops will be retained and expanded to all ports, bringing the total allowance to 15,000 yuan. 

The government believes the measures will enrich the shopping experience of mainland tourists in Hong Kong, promote diversified tourism development, and stimulate the local retail business.

The government has placed promotional materials at different ports and sent SMS to inbound mainland visitors to publicize the new arrangements. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has also launched a new promotional campaign offering 500,000 sets of discount vouchers for transport, sightseeing, dining, and shopping to overnight visitors.

Hong Kong has recently seen a surge in arrivals, with mainland visitors increasing by around 60 percent to 16 million year-on-year as of the end of June.