HK People May Suffer US Visa Delays: Academic

An academic specialising in political economy said on Saturday that it might be more difficult for Hong Kong people to get visas to study and work in the US in the future, after President Donald Trump announced that Washington will begin eliminating Hong Kong's preferential treatment.

Kevin Tsui, an associate professor of economics at Clemson University, in the US, said compared to people on the mainland, Hong Kong residents have been granted longer durations of stay and the application process has often been quicker.

He said Hong Kong and mainland residents might have to wait “in the same queue” in future.

Tsui predicted that Washington would select several Hong Kong officials to sanction, freezing their assets in the US and banning them from entering the country.

He said the impact might not be that great if the officials don't have any assets in the US. However, it would be an important, symbolic signal telling the world that “One Country, Two Systems is dead”, he said.

Tsui said the US might stop exporting some technology products to Hong Kong, affecting some IT firms in the SAR.

He added that the US might increase tariffs imposed on products imported from Hong Kong in phases, depending on the legislative process of the national security law.