What can you do for yourself, Hong Kong?
But it's not a conflict between the mainlanders and Hongkongers, as the suspects possibly involve staff with mainland travel agencies and the local shop both.
It's high time for local tourism authorities to take effective action to curb such ultra-low priced trips.
Unfortunately this case has escalated into a crisis that may damage the reputation of Hong Kong tourism.
Especially after a series of cases strain the ties between some mainland and Hong Kong residents in the past years.
From crying wolf over the baby formula to clash over a toddler answering to nature's call in public, from some's laughter about "locusts" to the months-long "occupy central",a small group of black sheep have tarnished Hong Kong's image as a hospitable heaven.
However, the whole Hong Kong society has begun swallowing the bitter fruits.
In sharp contrast to the increase of mainland tourists to Japan, South Korea, and even Europe during the golden week of National Day holiday, winter is falling on the Hong Kong's tourism and retails sectors.
According to CreditSuisse, Hong Kong's retail sector is expected to witness a 5 percent drop in 2015, the biggest yearly fall since 2000.
This is largely due to the decreasing number of mainland tourists. Besides the depreciation of Japanese yen and euro, Hong Kong's advantages as a regional service hub are being undermined.
Hong Kong has opened its doors to individual tourists from the mainland after SARS brought coldness to its local tourism and retails since 2003. In 1997, it managed to withstand the storm of the Asia's financial crisis with the support of the mainland.
Hong Kong could only maintain to be the bright pearl of Asia by keeping itself close to the mainland. Hopefully more Hong Kong residents will no longer allow themselves to bear the brunt of some black sheep's wrongdoings. There should be no tragedy like this case again.
