The government said on Sunday that they want to enhance the atmosphere of Temple Street by mimicking the night market held at the Wan Chai harbourfront, but warned there is only a slim chance that visitor numbers will hit pre-pandemic levels this year.

The Wan Chai night market, held at the end of September, was part of the government's Night Vibes Hong Kong campaign to boost the night economy.

On a TVB programme, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung said that the night market would mainly be held on weekends to avoid disturbing nearby residents.

"We need to take into consideration the needs of the residents who live near Temple Street. Right now, Temple Street is open daily, and not just limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday," he said.

"But is it worth hosting a large-scale event every day? I don't think so. I think it's best to do it on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Temple Street already has its distinctiveness and its crowds."

Yeung added that about 23 million people have visited the SAR from January to September, with the first two months seeing the lowest numbers.

He estimated that a total of 30 million tourists will visit this year, but the figure is far below pre-pandemic levels because of a limited number of flights.