Hong Kong Expands Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons, Promoting Economic Interactions and Exchanges

Expansion of Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons announced

With effect from October 1, the Government will expand the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons (the Scheme) by extending its coverage from the current member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to countries and regions in Central Asia and the Middle East, and allowing all bureaux/departments to issue invitations under the Scheme, with a view to facilitating economic and trade interactions and exchanges.

The Central Government Offices, Photo source: reference image

In order to promote economic and trade exchanges and cultural co-operation between Hong Kong and ASEAN, the Government launched the Scheme on March 18, 2025, allowing five bureaux/departments (including the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau; the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau; the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau; the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau; and the Department of Justice) to actively invite ASEAN nationals and provide more convenient immigration arrangements to them. The Scheme effectively facilitates invited persons from ASEAN to visit Hong Kong for exchanges, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder".

Upon review, the Government decided to expand the Scheme to cover countries and regions in Central Asia and the Middle East, and to allow all bureaux/departments to issue invitations under the Scheme, with a view to allowing more people from different sectors to visit Hong Kong for exchanges.

Photo source: reference image from ImmD

The Scheme will cover the following countries and regions after its expansion:

• ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam;

• Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; and

• Middle East: Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Under the Scheme, bureaux/departments will actively invite nationals from ASEAN, Central Asia, and the GCC, who are able to make considerable contributions to Hong Kong's economic development or who have been invited to attend important events in Hong Kong, to enjoy the facilitation. The Immigration Department (ImmD) will provide one-stop processing of relevant applications from invited persons through an electronic platform, relax the application criteria for self-service immigration clearance, and simplify the information required for visa applications (if applicable) (currently, visitors from eight countries across ASEAN and Central Asia are required to apply for a visa to visit Hong Kong). Invited persons can enjoy selfservice immigration clearance service at the control points of Hong Kong, which will greatly enhance clearance efficiency and experience.

For details of the Scheme, please visit the ImmD's website (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/invitedpersons.html).

Photo source: reference image from ImmD

Film Archive to screen 4K digitally restored versions of Stephen Chow's "A Chinese Odyssey" series in support of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

In support of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the 4K digitally restored versions of "A Chinese Odyssey Part One - Pandora's Box" (1995) and "A Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella" (1995) at its Cinema on October 25 (Sunday).

Both starring Stephen Chow and directed by Jeff Lau, the legendary comedy films are also two of the HKFA's "100 Must-See Hong Kong Movies". With rich imagination and comedic performances, the films reinterpret the classic novel "Journey to the West" into a story of poignant romance, bringing laughs and tears to the audience.

The 4K digital restoration of the films was made possible in 2025 through the provision of the films' original negatives, Cantonese soundtracks, and subtitle negatives by the copyright owner of the films, Media Asia Film Distribution (HK) Limited, allowing the two classics to be screened with sound and image close to the original theatrical release quality.

The screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks featuring the special effects director for the films, Andy Ma, and film critic Thomas Shin.

The films are in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles. Tickets priced at $60 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from September 26 (Saturday). There is a 20 per cent discount for every purchase of regular-priced tickets of two or more screenings of this programme. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or visit the website of the HKFA at www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/av-day/pe-event-2026-av-day.html.

In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designated October 27 of every year as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. It promotes awareness of the importance of preserving audio-visual documents from the past, which play an integral role in recording local and regional cultures.

Film Archive to screen 4K digitally restored versions of Stephen Chow's "A Chinese Odyssey" series in support of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive to screen 4K digitally restored versions of Stephen Chow's "A Chinese Odyssey" series in support of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases