Watch This | Foreign businesspeople praise central govt's policy on Mainland Travel Permits

The central government earlier announced measures to benefit Hong Kong, allowing non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macao to apply for a permit to travel to and from the mainland.

Some businesspeople in Hong Koong this morning (July 31) went to the Hong Kong Island Service Center of CTS Entry Permit Service to collect the permit, looking forward to visiting the mainland as soon as possible.

Dato' Gan Khai Choon, Chairman of MAYCHAM, said that it was very troublesome in the past, such as complicated application procedures, passports' validity for at least six months, and long queues in the manual channels when entering, etc.

He emphasized that the new policy is an important initiative that reflects the unique advantages of Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" and greatly facilitates foreign businessmen and professionals to travel to and from the Mainland to run their businesses, and that he will visit Wuxi in the future to inspect his business.

Gan said that many members of the Chamber have been investing heavily in China since the reform and opening up of the country, and their business involves real estate, hotels and accommodation, finance and commerce, etc. As far as he knows, the chamber has already received dozens of applications, and he believes the new policy will attract more foreign businessmen and professionals to Hong Kong.

Gary Lim Boon Yew, a committee member of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong), said that although the Singapore passport to the Mainland is visa-free, the waiting time for crossing the border is longer.  He believes that after receiving the Permit, he can use the fast-track to travel to save time.

He praised the application process which only needed to take photos and submit documents, and obtain the pass after three weeks.

"I plan to visit Shenzhen or the Greater Bay Area in the middle of next month," he noted.

Alfred Buchner, a former committee member of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau, brought his wife and daughter to the ceremony to receive the certificate. Alfred said his daughter Patricia, who was born in Hong Kong and has never been to the Mainland, will visit the Greater Bay Area this weekend after receiving the Permit. He believes that the stay limit of not more than 90 days is a good start and hopes that it can be extended in the future.

(Reporter: Jacky Wong Chun Kit; English Editor: Darius)

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