John Lee vows to support overseas KOLs following IShowSpeed's visit

Hong Kong will provide “any possible support” to influencers who will live stream in the city, said the city's leader John Lee.

This comes after the recent visit of the American influencer IShowSpeed (Speed) to Hong Kong for a live stream, where some believe that Hong Kong missed the opportunity to leverage this global publicity effectively by not providing the right itinerary for the influencer to explore the city.

Don’t miss: A missed opportunity to promote HK as IShowSpeed's tour slammed for mismanagement?

During a media session before the regular executive council meeting on Tuesday (8 April), Lee said he paid close attention to Speed's visit. He added that the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) had contacted Speed's arranger and expressed willingness to provide any support. Meanwhile, Speed did not contact the HKTB afterward, nor did he request any assistance from the government.

“However, I emphasise that the government will seize every opportunity, whether it is Speed or other influencers, or any promotional opportunity, we must seize the opportunity to promote as much as possible,” Lee said.

“We will continue to offer any possible support to Speed or any influencers we know will come to Hong Kong for live streaming,” he added. 

Looking ahead, Lee said he believed that promoting Hong Kong is something all Hongkongers hope to do, as it benefits the city’s economy and is advantageous for everyone. Therefore, each citizen can foster a welcoming atmosphere to provide a positive experience for all visitors to Hong Kong. Additionally, the industry and operators from various sectors can offer opportunities for influencers to promote and experience Hong Kong.

“The government will strive to seize every opportunity, proactively engage with and offer any feasible assistance to meet the needs of every influencer or promotional team coming to Hong Kong for promotional activities,” Lee said.

When asked about the effectiveness of the recently concluded Hong Kong Super March, Lee said it was very successful, especially in terms of attracting foreign tourists. For example, the annual Art Central drew in 25% of its visitors from abroad. Moreover, the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament saw 40% of the audience comprising non-local individuals, who were tourists. Art Basel attracted over half of its visitors from outside Hong Kong.

In terms of economics and business, Lee said various industries reported an additional revenue increase ranging from 15% to over 30%. Additionally, numerous large-scale events taking place in March showcased a diverse range of enriching experiences, proving beneficial for Hong Kong's overall tourism sector, food and beverage industry, and various other sectors.

"An array of grand events are set to unfold in April, and we are diligently extending this allure to attract a more diverse range of visitors to Hong Kong," Lee added. 

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., shot to fame through his dynamic livestreams on YouTube and has built a substantial global following. With 38 million subscribers, Speed’s visit was treated as an excellent opportunity to promote Hong Kong.

While Speed was guided by local YouTubers Torres Pit and Bertram Lau, they received backlash from netizens for their dull and inappropriate itinerary. Meanwhile, lawmaker Dominic Lee said on his Facebook page that the arrangement of the streaming tour did not include the true signature elements of Hong Kong.

Join us this coming 17 June for #Content360 Hong Kong, an insightful one-day event centered around responsible AI, creativity VS influencers, Xiaohongshu and more. Let's dive into the art of curating content with creativity, critical thinking and confidence!

Related articles:

A missed opportunity to promote HK as IShowSpeed's tour slammed for mismanagement?
IShowSpeed's HK tour cops flak for missing the city's highlights in itinerary
AI and nano influencers: How can industry players level up creativity in 2025?