John Lee policy address 2023: Hong Kong to relax visa rules for Vietnam, expand talent schemes to include country, Laos and Nepal
- Chief executive also announces that foreign staff of overseas firms registered in Hong Kong will be able to apply for single visa allowing multiple entries to mainland
- Hong Kong relaxes requirements for Vietnamese visitors applying for multi-entry visa for business and travel with immediate effect
Hong Kong will relax visa policies for three Asian nations, easing requirements for short-term visitors from Vietnam and expanding talent schemes to include skilled workers from that country as well as Laos and Nepal.
He said the move was aimed at attracting more international companies to set up their headquarters in Hong Kong, adding the government would speed up the processing of such visas.
The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong welcomed the announcement on new visa arrangements, saying it addressed one of the barriers foreign business travellers faced when entering the mainland.
Lee also said on Wednesday that Hong Kong would relax requirements for Vietnamese visitors applying for a multi-entry visa for business and travel with immediate effect.
According to a government source, the multiple-entry visa will allow Vietnamese travellers to visit the city for a maximum of 14 days each time over a two-year period.
To be eligible, travellers must have visited two or more countries at least three times in the past three years or have studied, worked or received training in Hong Kong in the past two years, the source said.