Malaysia consented to extend the 30-day visa-free stay period for folks with Hong Kong passports to 90 days. According to the sources, the Hong Kong administration made contact with the Malaysian government and submitted the request.

On Thursday, John Lee, the mayor, will go to that nation in Southeast Asia as part of a week-long tour of the region. The decision would be a reciprocation of Malaysians’ current 90-day visa-free travel privileges to the Asian financial centre.

Numerous calls to the Malaysian Home Ministry went unanswered. Moreover, a request for comment from Bloomberg News was not answered by a Hong Kong government official either.

John Lee is in the region to promote investment possibilities for the global financial centre. Additionally, he is trying to get support for the city’s application to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which was established by China.

Strengthening Links With South Asian Countries

Credits: Canva

The decision by Malaysia to extend Hong Kong’s visa-free status would be a simple victory for John Lee to demonstrate his deeper links to Southeast Asia. Hong Kong has been seeking to strengthen the city’s international financial centre.

The former British colony is now focusing on establishing relations with Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian nations. After travelling to Indonesia and Singapore, where he signed memorandums of cooperation on matters such as trade and financial services, John Lee is due to land in Malaysia on Thursday.

Similar agreements were inked when the Hong Kong leader travelled to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in February. The financial and commercial hub of Hong Kong is one of the largest.

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