Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Leung Chun-ying on Tuesday criticized the protest in Sheung Shui at the weekend against parallel traders.

Speaking ahead of a weekly Executive Council meeting, he said Sunday's demonstration, which targeted those who buy goods in Hong Kong and resell them in the mainland, did not help to promote Hong Kong as a hospitable city.

He also said it was not yet the right time to lift or relax an export restriction on baby milk powder.

Total visitor arrivals fell 8.4 percent year-on-year in July to 4.9 million, with those from the Chinese mainland having dropped 9. 8 percent to 3.8 million, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.