Hong Kong multi-entry scheme ‘likely to cover more mainland cities this year’

Starry Lee calls for Beijing and Shanghai to be included in scheme granting unlimited trips to Shenzhen residents

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Tourists visit Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 3:40pm, 15 Mar 2025Updated: 10:30pm, 15 Mar 2025

A multi-entry visa scheme allowing Shenzhen residents to make unlimited trips to Hong Kong is likely to be expanded this year to other mainland Chinese locations, the city’s sole representative on the nation’s top legislative body has said, while calling for Beijing and Shanghai to be included.

Starry Lee Wai-king, a member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, also said on Saturday that Hong Kong’s travel sector was an important element in promoting more international exchanges, a task Beijing officials gave the city at China’s recently concluded key political meetings, known as the “two sessions”.

Last November, mainland authorities announced that more than 10 million Shenzhen residents could apply for visas allowing them to make an unlimited number of trips to Hong Kong within a one-year period, with each visit capped at seven days.

Lee said she expected the scheme to be expanded this year to more mainland cities, while calling for Beijing and Shanghai’s inclusion.

“I personally think, beyond the cities within the Greater Bay Area that could be considered for expansion of the multiple-entry visa scheme, Beijing and Shanghai could also be considered as they have relatively large populations and they are quite far away from Hong Kong, which means visitors can stay longer if they come to visit,” she said.

The bay area is a national development blueprint that aims to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities into a new economic powerhouse.