HONG KONG, May 27 — Hong Kong may limit tourist arrivals as an influx of Chinese visitors stokes discontent, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said today.

The government is seeking feedback on proposals to trim visitors, Leung told reporters today.

Public discontent in Hong Kong has risen as Chinese tourists and investors have poured into the city, buying up homes, designer handbags and daily necessities, spurring street protests. Tourist arrivals jumped 11.7 per cent last year, the fourth consecutive year of double-digit gains, bolstering retailers and landlords including Wharf Holdings Ltd.and Luk Fook Holdings Ltd.

Hong Kong may need measures to “slow the gains in tourist arrivals or stop increases, or cut visitors,” Leung said. “We’re making studies and will seek feedback.”

Wharf, which owns the Harbour City and Times Square shopping malls, fell 2.7 per cent to HK$53.55 (RM22.14)  at 10:33 am in Hong Kong trading. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd, the world’s largest jewellery chain, declined 2.8 per cent to HK$10.26.

Protesters marched through Hong Kong streets this year demanding the government curb visitors from the mainland. China accounted for 75 per cent of the 54.3 million tourist arrivals last year, according to the government.

The Hong Kong government earlier this year said the city may have more than 70 million tourist arrivals in 2017. Tourism accounted for 4.5 per cent of the city’s economy in 2011, according to a paper Leung discussed with a committee yesterday.

Chinese visitors accounted for an estimated 34 per cent of retail sales in Hong Kong in 2013, according to a May 8 Bank of America Corp’s Merrill Lynch & Co analyst report. Any cuts in Chinese arrivals would affect Luk Fook more than other jewellery retailers, according to the report.

Katherine Yu, a spokeswoman at Hong Kong Retail Management Association, declined to comment on the possible curbs. — Bloomberg