Home Culture Expanded Travel Access Excites Hong Kong’s Ethnic Minority Communities

Expanded Travel Access Excites Hong Kong’s Ethnic Minority Communities

Kowloon City District Council member Rizwan Ullah

A new travel permit program is giving a boost to ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong, allowing them greater ease and motivation to visit mainland China.

Since the launch of the Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens) in July, hundreds of applications have poured in from the city’s diverse population.

Rizwan Ullah, a Kowloon City District Council member of Pakistani descent, has assisted around 600 applicants so far and continues to field about 15 inquiries per day. He sees the permits as a “push and pull factor” that will encourage more people to explore the mainland.

“Before we had this travel card, we faced many difficulties,” said Mohammad Ilyas, Ullah’s friend who accompanied him on a recent visit to the border crossing at Lok Ma Chau. “I personally accompanied my friend and waited a maximum of two hours.”

The permits not only reduce wait times at crossings, but also eliminate the need to apply for separate visas – a hassle that had discouraged travel in the past. This added convenience has sparked enthusiasm among ethnic minority residents to visit the mainland for research, business, tourism or cultural experiences.

“I want her to learn more about the country’s development, culture, and history,” said Mrs. Hui, a Hong Kong permanent resident who immigrated from Vietnam over a decade ago. She plans to take her daughter to places like Beijing and Shanghai now that she has her new permit.

The program appears to be resonating strongly, providing a sense of greater connectivity and belonging for Hong Kong’s diverse communities. As more residents share their mainland experiences on social media, Ullah predicts the permits will become an even stronger pull factor going forward.

“Many more people will apply, and when they see others posting on social media about their visits to Mainland China, this will become a push and pull factor,” he said. (source: HK government news)