[Hong Kong Expands Entry Facilitation Program for Specially Invited Persons] September 24th, the Hong Kong SAR government will expand the "Entry Facilitation Program for Specially Invited Persons" (the program) from October 1, from the current members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to Central Asia and the Middle East countries and regions, and will allow all government policy bureaux/departments to issue invitations through the program to promote economic and trade exchanges and multi-faceted exchanges. In order to promote economic and trade exchanges and cultural cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN, the SAR government launched a plan on March 18, 2025, allowing five policy 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 proactively invite specially invited persons from ASEAN and provide them with more convenient entry and exit arrangements. The plan effectively promotes visits and exchanges by specially invited ASEAN people to Hong Kong, and strengthens Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-added person”. After review, the SAR Government decided to expand the program to cover Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries and regions, and allow all policy bureaux/departments to issue invitations through the program to allow more people from different sectors to visit Hong Kong for exchanges. (Voice of the Greater Bay Area)