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Local Ethnic Minority Students Embark on Historic Exchange Tour to Greater Bay Area

In a significant step towards cultural exchange, the first tour group of local ethnic minority students set off for the Greater Bay Area yesterday, equipped with newly issued travel permits for non-Chinese permanent residents. This initiative aims to foster greater understanding and connectivity between Hong Kong and mainland China.

Twenty-eight pupils from the Yaumati Kaifong Association School are participating in a three-day excursion to Guangzhou and Foshan. Their itinerary includes visits to notable sites such as the Guangzhou Automobile Group Technology Museum, the Foshan Ancestral Temple, and the renowned Chimelong Safari Park. The students will also engage in traditional Chinese arts, including paper-cutting and calligraphy.

During the send-off ceremony in Yau Ma Tei, Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Clement Woo Kin-man emphasized the importance of this exchange, stating it would “broaden the horizons of non-Chinese local students” and enhance their comprehension of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

This development follows last month’s announcement by mainland immigration authorities that non-Chinese permanent residents in Hong Kong and Macau can now apply for home-return permits. These permits allow for multiple visits to the mainland over a five-year period, making travel more accessible.

“The permits will facilitate convenient border crossing and help non-Chinese residents look for more development opportunities in the mainland,” Woo added.

Among the excited students is ten-year-old Gurung Shristy, a Nepalese pupil. She expressed her enthusiasm for the trip, highlighting her eagerness to forge new friendships and immerse herself in Chinese culture. “I am very happy and excited to join the trip,” she shared. “I can meet our sister school in the mainland and I also plan to show my dancing and singing to students there.”

Shristy recalled a previous exchange trip where she enjoyed a “unique lunch experience” with mainland peers. “I love Chinese dishes and I hope I can make more new friends this time,” she said.

Her father, Raju Gurung, voiced hopes that the experience would deepen his daughter’s understanding of mainland culture. “It is necessary for us ethnic minority residents in Hong Kong to get to know about the country as we are part of it,” he remarked, adding that other family members are also seeking permits to explore more cities in the mainland.

Diallo Hafsatu, an African student on her first visit to the mainland, expressed anticipation for visiting the Ip Man Museum in Foshan, eager to learn about the legendary martial arts master.

School supervisor Yeung Tsz-hei noted that the new permits have significantly streamlined the preparation process for such tours. “In the past, it would take us half a year to prepare, and some students would fail to join due to visa issues,” he explained. “It would benefit the students if they could learn about mainland culture and lives earlier with the increasing integration of cities in the Greater Bay Area.”

Principal Wong Wing-sze added that the school will encourage more students and their families to apply for the new travel permits as the new academic year approaches.

As these young ambassadors embark on their journey, they carry with them the hopes of fostering cultural exchange and understanding in an increasingly interconnected world.