HONG KONG’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) is poised to undergo the steepest staffing reduction among government departments, as the 2026‑27 Budget outlines a multi‑year contraction of the civil service, according to reports.
The bureau – central to the city’s efforts to revitalise its tourism and events sectors – will see a 23 per cent cut in non-directorate positions, amounting to 88 posts, alongside three directorate‑level roles, according to a report by news website HK01.
These reductions come as the Government implements its plan to trim the civil service by 2 per cent annually over the next two financial years, HK01 reported, with more than 10,000 posts to be eliminated by mid‑2027.
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While several departments are undergoing “double reductions” in both senior and junior grades, the report said CSTB’s contraction stands out for its scale and signifigance. Established in 2022 to consolidate Hong Kong’s cultural, sports and tourism policymaking, the bureau plays a key role in the government’s strategy to reinforce the city’s international positioning as an events and tourism hub.
According to HK01, staffing will fall to 290 posts by March 2027. In his Budget Address, Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced that the Government would allocate HK$1.66 billion to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in the coming year – an increase from the HK$1.235 billion granted previously – following a 12 per cent rise in visitor arrivals in 2025.
HKTB chairman Peter Lam said the organisation intends to “make full use” of the enhanced budget to target high‑end overnight visitors from mainland China cities beyond neighbouring Guangdong, including ASEAN countries, and the Middle East, while strengthening MICE and cruise tourism promotion.
