HONG KONG (SCMP): Hong Kong Olympian and gold medallist Vivian Kong Man-wai admitted she was a newcomer to the tourism field during a lively election forum on Thursday, as she faced off against rival Ma Yat-chiu, who highlighted his industry credentials.
She pledged, however, to serve the sector with the “fighting spirit of an athlete” if elected to the Legislative Council seat representing the tourism industry during the December 7 poll.
The fencing star, who won gold at the 2024 Olympics, acknowledged she was less familiar with the industry compared with her sole opponent Ma Yat-chiu, a district councillor, travel agency operator and accredited tourist guide.
But she vowed to make up for it through perseverance and serve with the “fighting spirit of an athlete” during Thursday’s election forum.
“Although I lack experience in the tourism industry, I will adopt the mindset of an athlete trailing in a race, working hard to carry forward the spirit of my predecessors,” Kong said, adding that she planned to apply for a tour guide licence.
She pledged to listen closely to the voices of the industry, balance the interests across the sector from a fresh perspective, and unite the industry “to fight for more resources”.
Kong said small and medium-sized travel agencies faced mounting challenges from independent travel and called for greater support to help them transform through digitalisation and diversified products such as in-depth tourism.
Ma, emphasising his experience, said the industry needed a representative with deep knowledge.
“The industry is at a critical juncture to advance to prosperity. Therefore, we need someone with extensive experience in tourism and politics, who possesses outstanding ability and integrity, and who is honest and reliable, to serve as a lawmaker,” he said.
Vivian Kong will take on Ma Yat-chiu in the tourism functional constituency. - Photo: Sam Tsang / South China Morning Post
Ma proposed introducing tourism vouchers for the elderly and encouraging them to travel with tour groups, expanding Hong Kong’s flight network and nurturing more young talent in the sector.
The tourism constituency comprises 176 voters, including members of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners and the Board of Airline Representatives.
Former Travel Industry Council chairwoman Gianna Hsu Wong Mei-lun, who joined Kong’s campaign team, praised her “international vision and recognition” and said the fencer’s reputation could help Hong Kong stand out amid fierce competition for tourists.
“She worked at the Hong Kong Jockey Club and is an outstanding athlete. In racing tourism and sports tourism, I believe that she will be able to leverage her connections to get things done,” Hsu said.
However, the current council chairman, Tommy Tam Kwong-shun, said that he had yet to decide on whom to support.
Asked why he attended Kong’s campaign launch but not Ma’s, Tam explained he had not been invited to the latter. “I support every candidate who is fit for the role.”
Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, described both candidates as passionate, adding that the association would decide on its endorsement after meeting them later this month.
At a separate forum for the real estate and construction functional constituency, the sluggish property market and the Northern Metropolis were the focus.
The Northern Metropolis is a 30,000-hectare megaproject near the city’s border aiming to become a new engine of economic growth and housing.
Howard Chao of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong called on the government to empower the committee tasked with its development with greater authority to attract investment and introduce new technologies.
He also suggested revitalising the property and construction sectors by boosting finance-driven growth.
“Giving out small favours achieves nothing. The key is for the real economy to grow, driving up demand, so that all sectors can truly benefit,” he said.
Chao, who is running against Augustine Wong Ho-ming, an executive director at leading developer Henderson Land, positioned himself as an impartial representative, noting that no core management from a major developer had ever held the seat.
“When the government pushes policies on the Northern Metropolis or urban redevelopment, I will not need to withdraw from the meetings or abstain from voting because of massive land reserves and assets,” Chao said.
Meanwhile, Wong pledged to push developers to prioritise transitional projects such as sports and exhibition venues at the Northern Metropolis to accelerate construction and draw businesses to the development.
He also called for government-led “matchmaking” between firms from overseas or mainland China and local developers – particularly small and medium-sized ones – to facilitate the sector’s participation in the megaproject.
Hong Kong residents will vote for 20 lawmakers from 51 candidates across 10 geographical constituencies. Another 30 will be chosen in the functional constituencies and 40 will be elected through the Election Committee constituency.
There are 60 and 50 candidates in the functional and Election Committee constituencies. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
