PURNA BASNET

CY Leung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region of the People´s Republic of China, has expressed his eagerness to relax the existing strict visa rules for Nepali citizens, in order to strengthen Nepal-Hong Kong bilateral ties.

Mahesh Prasad Dahal, Nepali Consul General to Hong Kong, had paid a courtesy call on Leung on May 21, during which Leung reiterated that the visa problems faced by Nepali citizens entering Hong Kong for the last eight years could be sorted out mutually.

Dahal, who was appointed Consul General for Hong Kong and Macao around one and half months ago, had specially requested Leung to lift the supposed visa ban for Nepali citizens. Dahal was of the opinion that the stricter Hong Kong visa rule for Nepali citizens should be relaxed for the enhancement of trade, promotion of tourism and expansion of bilateral relations between Nepal and Hong Kong. Replying to Dahal´s request, Leung indicated that he was relaxing the strict Hong Kong visa rules for Nepalis.

“Being small in area and an over-crowded city, it is imperative for Hong Kong to impose strict visa rules. But we are eager to sort out the existing problems through mutual discussion,” Dahal told Republica on Monday, quoting Leung.

Nepali citizens have had difficulty entering Hong Kong after it introduced a stringent visa policy for Nepali passport holders in 2005. After Hong Kong stopped issuing work visas for Nepali citizens, the number of Nepali migrants has dropped from 2,000 to 500 per year. Similarly, diplomatic, student and visit visas are also harder to get since the introduction of the new visa rules. The Nepal government´s effort to ease Hong Kong visas for Nepali citizens has so far been fruitless.

Dahal also requested Song Jhe, Commissioner of Chinese Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, to help resolve the Hong Kong visa problem. According to Dahal, Song was positive toward the issue.

Leung, who was appointed head of the Special Administrative Region last year, said that Nepal can be a good ´holiday station´ for Hong Kong tourists. Dahal and his team, who had reached Leung´s office, said that Hong Kong is expected to invest in Nepal´s infrastructure as well as in sectors such as tourism, agriculture and railways.

“A tangible step is necessary to extend trade, investment and bilateral economic ties between Nepal and Hong Kong,” Dahal quoted Leung as saying.

Published on: 4 June 2013 | Republica