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

Hong Kong companies should accelerate their expansion into the Middle East, the Asean bloc and Central Asia to reduce their exposure to geopolitical risks, a…

By Samantha Johnson / August 26, 2026

Hong Kong companies should accelerate their expansion into the Middle East, the Asean bloc and Central Asia to reduce their exposure to geopolitical risks, a lawmaker has said, as the US moved to disrupt immigrant-visa appointments worldwide.

Jonathan Lamport, the representative for the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) in the Legislative Council, said the visa uncertainty reinforced the need for companies to broaden their overseas presence beyond traditional Western markets.

“The business sector cannot put all its eggs in one basket,” he told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday.

“While we will continue to maintain our relationships with traditional markets like the US and Europe, we must also accelerate our strategic expansion into emerging markets such as the Middle East, Asean and Central Asia.”

The commercial sector lawmaker said the local business community was closely monitoring whether the disruption would affect the processing and approval of business visas.

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