Residents upset US visa-free status continues to evade HK
Residents unhappy over US move to grant Taiwan visa-free status while denying HK the same right despite years of lobbying
Travel and business leaders have expressed frustration that Hongkongers continue to be denied visa-free access to the US, after it was announced that the privilege would be extended to Taiwan beginning next month.
"It's disappointing, because we've been asking for it for quite some time, and they still won't give it to us," Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Ya-chung said yesterday. "We behave well, never cause trouble and spend handsomely, so why do they give it to Taiwan and not Hong Kong?"
The Hong Kong government has for many years been lobbying the US government for admission to the list of countries on the Visa Waiver Programme where pre-approved, low-risk travellers can travel to the US visa-free for tourism or business for up to 90 days. The last discussion on the issue took place last November, when then Chief Executive Donald Tsang meet US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Taiwan on November 1 will become the 37th country or territory on the list, which includes the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It is the fifth Asian member, after Brunei, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong president Richard Vuylsteke said the chamber had also been lobbying the US State and Homeland Security departments for more than five years, the last time in June.
"It's not for the lack of trying," he said, adding that the process had hit some snags but was still on the table. He could not say exactly what the snags were.
"All of the reasons Taiwan was approved ... Hong Kong is also very strong in," he said. "My private speculation is they don't know how to handle mainland Chinese with [Hong Kong] resident status."