Mainland Chinese visitor arrivals in Hong Kong during the first two days of the National Day “golden week” surpassed the pre-pandemic total for the same period in 2018, as the tourism chief expressed confidence that the city would reach its annual target of 53.8 million visitors earlier than expected.

The city recorded 511,311 arrivals from the mainland on Thursday and Friday, according to Immigration Department figures, edging past the 508,578 recorded during the same period in 2018.

The first day of the holiday drew 277,304 mainland visitors, up from 247,626 on the opening day in 2018. The second day welcomed 234,007, compared with 260,952 that year.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Saturday that mainland tourists on the first day had surpassed the pre-pandemic high, with many visitors also arriving early for the Mid-Autumn Festival.