By Kelly Ho

Copyright hongkongfp

Hong Kong will offer free tram rides, half-priced movie tickets, free access to some government leisure facilities, and other special perks on October 1 to mark China’s National Day.

Chief Executive John Lee announced on Wednesday that the government had joined hands with various sectors to “prepare a series of exciting events and special offers” in celebration of the 76th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Similar promotions were held in previous years.

All tram routes will be free of charge on October 1, while cinemas across the city will offer 50 per cent off all tickets that day. Lee estimated that the offer would attract around 190,000 people to watch a movie on the silver screen that day.

The city’s railway operator, the MTR Corporation, will give away 76,000 free single rides through a lucky draw on its mobile app on October 1. The giveaway will cover 60,000 domestic single rides, 10,000 single rides to/from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations, and 6,000 Airport Express single rides.

Admission to the permanent exhibitions at the Hong Kong Science Museum and Hong Kong Space Museum, as well as to a special exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, will be free of charge. Hong Kong Wetland Park will also welcome visitors without charge.

People may use some indoor and outdoor government-managed leisure facilities for free. These include badminton and tennis courts, swimming pools, and water sports centres, subject to ballot applications, which will open this week from Wednesday to Saturday.

Children using the Octopus card may enjoy free rides on most bus routes operated by Citybus, Kowloon Motor Bus, Long Win Bus, and New Lantao Bus.

Free rides are available on some urban ferry routes, including the Star Ferry’s Tsim Sha Tsui-Central route.

“We are very much looking forward to National Day, so that citizens and tourists can celebrate together in a joyful and festive atmosphere,” Lee said at a press conference in Cantonese.

Lee hailed the catering and retail sectors for “responding en masse” to the National Day celebration. More than 1,000 eateries and merchants will roll out special offers on October 1, while malls and department stores, such as D2 Place, MTR Malls, YATA, APITA and UNY, will have other promotions.

Other offers included free admission to the Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses for the National Day races.

The Peak Tram, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, West Kowloon Cultural District, and Tai Kwun will offer discounts and distribute souvenirs.