Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, is hopeful that the city will soon benefit from favorable measures he has requested from the central government. Beijing has praised his latest policy blueprint, seeing it as a sign of his commitment to implementing reforms.
During a recent session with lawmakers, Lee expressed optimism about expanding the “one-trip-per-week” visa scheme for Hong Kong to visitors from more mainland Chinese cities, beyond Shenzhen, to boost consumption amid a slowing economy. He mentioned that Beijing is considering this proposal, as well as the resumption of multiple-entry visits for Shenzhen residents.
In his policy address, Lee acknowledged the challenges faced by certain industries in Hong Kong and emphasized the need for Beijing to carefully evaluate any potential policy changes. He highlighted the importance of being practical and following through on requests made to the central authorities.
Lee also mentioned that cities closely connected to Hong Kong in terms of transportation and interactions could be included in the expanded visa scheme. Overall, he remains optimistic about the future benefits these measures could bring to the city.