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EconomicChina·26 Aug 2026 · 21h ago

Hong Kong lawmaker urges firms to expand into emerging markets amid US visa delay

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Legislative Council member Jonathan Lamport, representing the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, urged local firms to accelerate expansion into the Middle East, the Asean bloc, and Central Asia. The call came as the United States implemented global disruptions to immigrant-visa appointments, raising concerns within the local business community regarding the processing and approval of business visas. Lamport stated that these developments underscored the necessity for Hong Kong companies to diversify their overseas presence beyond traditional Western markets to reduce exposure to geopolitical risks.

Consequences

Hong Kong businesses may prioritize strategic investment and expansion in emerging markets to mitigate the impacts of visa-related uncertainty. The commercial sector is expected to maintain close monitoring of US visa processing to assess how ongoing disruptions influence future business operations.

Sources

SCMP
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