Cruise terminal souvenir market

A 5,000-square-foot market selling local souvenirs to tourists will be set up at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal from today, ahead of a 4,500-passenger cruise docking in Hong Kong tomorrow.

Taxi unions meanwhile called on the government to keep them updated on the situation at the terminal so drivers can pick up travelers.

Kara Yeung Tsz-ching, chief executive of the Hong Kong Cruise and Yacht Industry Association that is co-organizing the souvenir market, said more than 20 local brands, including Walnut Shop and Hong Kong Tramways, have agreed to show their wares.

"There are also small shops selling shrimp paste and flower tea," she said.

Local souvenirs available at the market will also include pre-packaged dim sum and cookies.

Yeung said shrimp paste is usually contained in big bottles that could be inconvenient for tourists and the association has suggested merchants put the shrimp paste in smaller bottles to attract travelers.

She hoped that even if there are no cruise ships arriving in the SAR, the market will still attract tour groups and other citizens on weekends.

Yeung said the market will operate from 10am to 9pm daily until November 30. The association will decide later whether to extend the market operation.

Manager of the Motor Transport Workers General Union's Kowloon branch To Sun-tong said new bus routes at the cruise terminal will be helpful for tourists.

Many tourists will opt for the bus as it can take them to MTR stations and tourist attractions, he said.

He said the government should increase their frequencies so that tourists need not wait for a long time at the cruise terminal.

Since many tourists may also choose to take taxis, authorities should continue to update taxi drivers about the situation at the terminal, To said. That should include the number of tourists waiting at the terminal and whether drivers can receive the government's HK$50 fuel vouchers.

The government announced Wednesday that two more special bus routes - 20R and 25R - will operate on Saturday to take visitors from the Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship to Kwun Tong and Tsim Sha Tsui.

Spectrum of the Seas is set to arrive in Hong Kong with its 4,500 passengers from Kagoshima, Japan. About 1,100 passengers will take part in activities by the cruise line, while the remaining 3,400 are expected to use public transport to get around Hong Kong.