As someone who was born in Hong Kong and has lived abroad, I have benefited from our city’s international openness, vibrant multinationalism and thriving business community.
Many of my friends come from non-Chinese families who settled here generations ago and built their base here, and they really consider this city their home. One area that is often highlighted for improving cross-border travel is immigration checks.
With Hong Kong’s unique East-meets-West cultural atmosphere, leisure and culinary scene, we are well-positioned to help non-Chinese residents adapt and develop deeper contextual knowledge of China. Our unique institutional, common law jurisdiction and quality of life of expatriate workers all conducive to attracting talent, capital and companies to Hong Kong.
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What to know: New mainland travel permit for non-Chinese nationals in Hong Kong and Macau
What to know: New mainland travel permit for non-Chinese nationals in Hong Kong and Macau
All these powers are above the city Best Talent Graduate Schemeintroduced in late 2022, has received more than 72,000 applications, of which around 60,000 have been approved. The easing of cross-border travel adds to the highly competitive offering for global talent, creating a pathway for these individuals to leverage their skills and contribute to the development of Hong Kong and beyond.
For leading international companies seeking to deepen trade and knowledge exchange with mainland China, Hong Kong can serve as a key hub for their regional management and executives. The international business community, including the American Chamber of Commerce, the European Chamber of Commerce, and many others, has voiced his support for a new business-friendly scheme in Hong Kong.
The increasing interconnectivity between Hong Kong and other countries, Greater Bay Areathe better. Creating easier cross-border travel and greater intensity and volume of people-to-people exchanges will help deepen mutual understanding and appreciation between the people of China and their friends. Hong Kong can seize this opportunity to attract talents from Southeast Asia and beyond.
Many friends from Southeast Asia who have lived in Hong Kong for decades shared their joy with me after reading the news about the visa-free scheme. They see it as a recognition of their contribution to China’s growth trajectory in the years to come. With this new scheme, these overseas friends can now enjoy an international lifestyle in Hong Kong while running their businesses smoothly in mainland China.
It is not just the added convenience that they value, but also the sense of community. In playing their part in serving and building Hong Kong’s resilience, they are also collectively leaving a positive mark on China’s opening up to the world at large.
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Hong Kong leader John Lee vows to deepen ties with ASEAN as gateway to mainland China
Hong Kong leader John Lee vows to deepen ties with ASEAN as gateway to mainland China
Hong Kong should seize this opportunity and formulate more measures to attract talented people. from Southeast Asia to Hong Kong, the ideal gateway to the mainland.
Businesses across industries can engage and collaborate with their partners in the region to design exchanges and programs to tap into the talent pool. Together, they can form an ecosystem that encompasses talent development, working with overseas and regional partners.
The government could also consider opening the door wider, for example, by adding top universities in Southeast Asian countries and their graduates to the eligibility list for the Top Talent Graduate Scheme.
In the current geopolitical climate of competition and friendship, introducing a visa-free travel scheme to the mainland is a wise move by the central government and the Hong Kong administration. It adds value to Hong Kong’s appeal as an international hub and shows the world that China knows how to use the one country, two systems framework to secure added value for both Hong Kong and the mainland.
Daryl Ng is the chairman of the Hong Kong-Asean Foundation.
