Migrant workers from factories in southern China will be allowed to visit Disneyland under a new scheme announced Wednesday allowing 10 million more Chinese visitors into Hong Kong.
However, with the theme park's entrance fees at 45 US dollars - a fortnight's wages for some Chinese factory workers - it is questionable how many of them will be able to afford the breaks.
From April 1, some 2.6 million residents of the Chinese border city of Shenzhen will be allowed to apply for multiple-entry visas to enter Hong Kong under the scheme aimed at boosting visitor numbers to Hong Kong.
From May 1, a further 7 million people without residency - mostly migrant workers - will be eligible to visit Hong Kong under its individual travellers scheme, government officials announced.
Most migrant workers in southern China earn a maximum of around 1,000 yuan (146 US dollars) a month and have never travelled outside mainland China.
Travel industry representatives welcomed the scheme but admitted they did not expect a huge influx of migrant workers and said they would be happy with "five to 10 per cent" of the eligible numbers.
Despite reverting to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" arrangement, wealthy Hong Kong maintains tight border controls with neighbouring southern China.
Cross-border travel restrictions were eased substantially after 2003 to allow in millions more Chinese visitors, who now account for more than half of the city's visitor arrivals.
However, officials predict that visitor numbers will fall by 1.6 per cent to around 29 million in 2009 because of the global economic crisis and want more Chinese visitors allowed in ease the shortfall.
Migrant workers from factories in southern China will be allowed to visit Disneyland under a new scheme announced Wednesday allowing 10 million more Chinese visitors into Hong Kong.