Hong Kong gears up for Christmas as 1.1 million residents head out of city
Between Saturday and Monday at 4pm, 2.07 million people left Hong Kong while 1.26 million entered the city, a net outflow of around 800,000
More than 1.1 million residents left Hong Kong between Saturday and Monday as the city geared up for the Christmas holiday while business operators were hoping for a boost in sales from visitors over the peak festive period.
Border crossings have been packed with inbound and outbound travellers since the weekend, while the holiday season also offers businesses wrapping up a year of sluggish economic activity opportunities for some festive cheer.
The leader of Hong Kong’s 400,000 Catholics invited the faithful to await the “promise of joy and hope of Christmas”, despite “depressive and anxiety-provoking realities”.
Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, head of the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong, said: “Christmas and the New Year are a time for hope, love, peace, and dreams!
“Without hope and dreams, there will be no future. Especially for our young people, we need to walk alongside them and empower their creative hopes and dreams.”
He pointed to challenges facing Hong Kong and the world, including the slower-than-expected economic recovery, worsening geopolitics and rising mental health problems among the youth and elderly.
