Hong Kong businessmen stranded in Dubai are seeking urgent assistance to return home, according to Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, a member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Chamber Council and the Executive Council.
Lam reported receiving requests from about a dozen businessmen who hoped to travel by land to Muscat International Airport in Oman to catch flights back to Hong Kong. However, Lam expressed concerns about possible visa issues and the risk of overwhelming Oman's airport facilities, advising those affected to stay in safe locations for now.
He noted that some foreign businessmen residing in Hong Kong could also encounter visa complications if they attempt to transit through regional airports, reinforcing his advice for all travelers to remain where they are until the situation stabilizes.
Lam himself had planned a business trip to Qatar and other Middle Eastern destinations later this month to promote Hong Kong’s financial sector, but said ongoing instability has cast doubt on his travel plans.
Separately, lawmaker Tommy Chung Ki-fung — representing the import and export sector — warned that air transport costs in the region could surge by up to 10 percent in the short term, citing a series of flight cancellations and diversions in response to heightened Middle East tensions.
Chung also highlighted that some shipping companies have rerouted vessels to avoid Middle Eastern waters, increasing voyage distances and driving up fuel expenses.
With shipping companies now charging war risk premiums and oil price volatility impacting fuel costs, Chung expects overall shipping expenses to increase by at least 5 to 10 percent in the immediate future.
