Hong Kong’s bid to deepen ties with Central Asia is gathering pace, with Chief Executive John Lee announcing new direct flights and dozens of cooperation deals yesterday, according to reports in multiple media outlets.

Lee has been leading a Hong Kong delegation, which includes senior officials, more than 40 Hong Kong business and professional representatives, and around 30 mainland enterprise executives, to Kazakhstan. He heads to Uzbekistan today. 

The group covers finance, legal services, infrastructure, logistics, innovation and technology, manufacturing and the automotive sector, reflecting Hong Kong’s aim to position itself as a services and capital hub for projects across the region.

Speaking to reporters in Astana during his first official trip to Central Asia, Lee said the city’s outreach was already “bearing fruit,” pointing to an agreement in principle on new air links between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. 

[See more: Hong Kong courts Central Asia with finance and services hub pitch]

Cathay Pacific has announced plans to launch three weekly direct flights between Hong Kong and Almaty in the first quarter of 2027, operated by Airbus A330‑300 aircraft and billed as the only non‑stop service connecting the two cities. Lee said the service would significantly cut travel time and offer onward access to Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

Alongside transport links, memorandums of understanding were unveiled in areas such as trade, investment and green finance, which Lee described as a “significant breakthrough.” The agreements span cooperation between Hong Kong and Kazakh institutions, as well as partnerships involving mainland enterprises using the city as a platform for regional expansion.

Visa arrangements are also on the agenda. Hongkongers currently enjoy visa‑free access to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan for stays ranging from 10 to 30 days, but Lee said his target is to secure 30‑day visa‑free entry for all three countries and then work on facilitating travel to the remaining two Central Asian states.

Officials are framing Lee’s trip as part of a broader effort to open new markets for Hong Kong businesses and strengthen the city’s role in the Belt and Road Initiative.