Hong Kong residents made 62.8 million visits to the mainland areas of China last year, spending 24.1 billion Hong Kong dollars, according to tourism sources.

The Chinese mainland is the first option of Hong Kong residents when they choose a vacation destination. Out of the total visits, 36 percent were business trips and the rest 64 percent were personal travels.

The total spending of Hong Kong residents in the mainland in 2005 increased 0.7 percent in comparison with that in 2004. On average, an individual visitor spent 600 Hong Kong dollars, and the person in a tourist group spent 1,370 Hong Kong dollars.

Hong Kong residents preferred to buy clothes, cigarettes, books and tea in the mainland, and enjoy services concerning massage, medical care, golf and beauty parlors.

Source: Xinhua