However, Indian diplomats and prominent businessmen based in Hong Kong told PTI that the local government has dropped the proposal after representations at the highest level stating that such a move could seriously jeopardise the trade, business and tourism flows from India.A report in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post recently said the proposal to scrap the visa-free facility for Indians was mooted by members of theliberal Party to curb the asylum seekers from India which registered sharp increase in recent months.
Dominic lee Tsz-king — chairman of the liberal Party’s Youth Committee and a key force behind the proposal — defended the move as a “sacrifice to protect our borders”.“For legitimate visitors, it’s not too much hassle to get visas these days. It can be done online or through many mediums,” lee was quoted as saying by the Post.
