Hong Kong SAR passports slide down to 20th in global power rankings
London-based consulting firm ranks passports across the globe by the amount of visa-free travel they entitle their owner to
Not all passports are equal.
And Hong Kong passports look poised to become less popular, as a major index of travel freedom showed their power is slipping on the international stage.
But a leading academic in the field of competitiveness studies predicted many people on the mainland would still acquire citizenship in the special administrative region, in the belief that this proof of identity could enable them to travel abroad more easily.
The Hong Kong passport, issued to eligible citizens in this city of 7.3 million, ranked 20th on a list of the most powerful passports in the world in 2016, down four places from last year.
German passports topped the tally compiled by Henley & Partners, a London-based consulting firm specialising in citizenship services. The index quantifies the power of passports, judging the ranking passports across the globe by the amount of visa-free travel they entitle their owner to.
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A Hong Kong passport holder has visa-free access to 154 territories, while citizens of regional rival Singapore are able to visit 173 countries without a visa.