Letters | Hong Kong should consider easing visa rules for belt and road partners

I run a leadership development programme at the University of Hong Kong for mid-career professionals and executives from around the world. Many of our participants come from the Belt and Road Initiative countries and other emerging economies, and we have encountered difficulties related to visa processing from time to time.

Despite submitting their student visa applications around two months before travel, some participants experience long and uncertain processing times. In some cases, visas were issued only days before departure, and in one instance, a student received his visa after the programme had already started. These delays create significant uncertainty, complicating travel plans and affecting career arrangements.

After spending several months in Hong Kong, our students – typically professionals in their 30s and 40s – develop a deep understanding of Hong Kong’s economy, institutions and business environment. They build extensive local networks and often wish to return after graduation to attend conferences, explore business opportunities, establish start-ups or pursue collaborations.

Unfortunately, some of them face the same visa challenges again. In recent months, some alumni have been unable to obtain their visas in time for scheduled conferences, and one former student had to abandon his plan to set up a company in Hong Kong after receiving no response on his visa application for over five weeks.

Admission to our programme is highly competitive, and each participant is a proven professional with a strong track record in their field. After completing the programme, they are well positioned to act as ambassadors for Hong Kong, promoting economic and professional links between their home countries and our city. These are precisely the kinds of individuals Hong Kong should be attracting to strengthen our connections with the belt and road region.