However, Ip said, growth in visits from the mainland had also put pressure on ports, tourism facilities and even local people's livelihoods. And so tourists sometimes do not enjoy quality service.

Shi Wenjing, a financial auditor in Shanghai, said a tighter travel control policy would create a gap between the mainland and Hong Kong that would be good for neither.

"When the whole world is trying to attract mainland tourists to visit their countries by loosening visa requirements, it is ridiculous to hear that Hong Kong, which is part of our own country, is trying to push mainland visitors outside," Shi said.

Wei Xiao'an, secretary-general of the China Tourism Leisure Association, was skeptical about any tightening of visitation.

"Hong Kong, along with Macao and Taiwan, has long been a popular destination for Chinese mainland tourists and shoppers because of the short flight, familiar language and cheap price of goods," said Wei. "So it is an irresistible trend."

"The limited capacity theory is not that convincing," Wei said. "When someplace is overwhelmed by visitors, other visitors go somewhere else. The number of tourists should be adjusted by the market, not government policies."