Tourism policy and performance
Mr CHAN Chun-ying considered it important for HKTB to set appropriate objectives in order to enhance its corporate governance. He was of the view that in order to enhance the cost-effectiveness of HKTB’s work and given the keen competition from neighbouring regions, HKTB should set objectives having regard to the interests and trends of tourists on top of the ones relating to the number of visitor arrivals and the average length of stay by visitors. He suggested that HKTB could consider adding new objectives such as the development of new attractions, management of existing attractions, and accommodation and shopping experience of tourists.
Mr Anthony LAU of HKTB advised that visitor satisfaction, which was one of the key tourism performance indicators of HKTB, had covered the satisfaction levels of tourists in different aspects. HKTB had an elaborate mechanism to measure the effectiveness of HKTB’s work, and relevant targets in various aspects would be set every year. For example, targets had been set on the number of page views of HKTB’s corporate website, the number of fans recorded in HKTB’s social media platform, and the value of HKTB’s public relations.
Development of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Mr CHAN Chun-ying referred to a recent media report which criticized the management of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (“KTCT”), and enquired about the Administration’s plans in enhancing the efficiency and popularity of KTCT apart from pursuing growth in the number of ship calls and cruise passenger throughput.
SCED remarked that KTCT was a purpose-built infrastructure with core functions of receiving cruise ships and handling large number of cruise passengers. He advised that with KTCT, the number of ship calls and cruise passenger throughput of Hong Kong as a whole in 2017 had both achieved the projected performance made in the earlier years when the Government was considering the construction of KTCT. He further advised that the Administration attached great importance to the comprehensive development of KTCT and Kai Tak development area. The Administration would also explore further any other benefits that KTCT could bring to Hong Kong.
Performance of HKDL
Mr CHAN Chun-ying noted that there was increased depreciation in FY17 which was related to retiring certain assets for taking forward the Plan. He asked if such an increase in depreciation was caused by the construction of new rides. He also sought information on the assets that had been retired.
Mr Samuel LAU of HKDL replied that the one-time costs recorded in FY17 included the costs associated with the launch of new offerings during the year, namely the “Iron Man Experience” attraction and the new hotel Disney Explorers Lodge. He added that in order to take forward the Plan, the depreciation schedules of certain structures and assets had been advanced, and hence leading to the increased depreciation in the year.
Mr CHAN Chun-ying noted that the new hotel was in operation for two-thirds of calendar year 2017, and that an increase of 16% was recorded in the number of room nights sold in FY17. In this connection, he enquired about the distribution of the said increase in the number of room nights sold among the three hotels of HKDL in FY17.
Mr Samuel LAU of HKDL said that hotel occupancy varied by season. He pointed out that the types of rooms and facilities were different in the three hotels, which provided HKDL the flexibility in marketing the hotels to a broader market with different affordability.