Businessman lauds new travel permit

September 10, 2024

Voiceover:
 
Businessman Simon Manning recently entered Shenzhen for a meeting via Futian Port using his new Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens).
 
He praised the clearance process, saying it was a lot smoother with the new permit.
 
Hotels group managing director Simon Manning:
 
It makes it very easy now to access the Mainland because, before, I had an (APEC Business Travel Card). I did not have to apply for a visa but I always kept my employees waiting for me while I went through the other channel. Now, I do not hold anybody up.
 
Voiceover:
 
Mr Manning highlighted that as Hong Kong serves as an international business hub, there will always be huge demand among the business community here for travel to the Mainland. He added that the benefits of the new arrangement to business travellers from many different sectors are therefore huge.
 
Hotels group managing director Simon Manning:
 
Hong Kong acts not just as a city for itself, it acts as a regional headquarters. So, (people) need to travel and enter (the Mainland) for business purposes, like I do. It is just super-convenient. It is fast, it is efficient. The application process was very simple.
 
Voiceover:
 
Under the new arrangement, rolled out on July 10, non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents are able to apply for a five-year multiple-entry travel permit for the Mainland. In recognition of the convenience the new permit brings, Mr Manning said he hopes its validity period can be extended to ten years.

Businessman Simon Manning travelled to Shenzhen for a meeting using his new Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens).

He praised the travel permit, describing it as providing him easy access to the Mainland and a smooth clearance process.

Mr Manning said: “I always kept my employees waiting for me while I went through the other channel. Now, I do not hold anybody up.”

Apart from lauding the travel permit as being super convenient, Mr Manning highlighted that as Hong Kong serves as an international business hub, there will always be huge demand among the business community here for travel to the Mainland.

He added that the advantages of the new arrangement for business travellers from many different sectors are therefore vast.

The new arrangement, implemented on July 10, allows non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong to apply for a five-year multiple-entry travel permit to the Mainland.

In recognition of the convenience the new permit brings, Mr Manning said he hopes its validity period can be extended to 10 years.