Hong Kong and Macao have reached agreement that after Macao's return to China, there will be no change in entry arrangements to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) for Macao residents holding existing travel documents, a spokesman for Hong Kong Immigration Department said on December 10. The agreement was reached after discussions among Hong Kong Immigration Department, the Macao Identification Department and the Macao Immigration Department, according to the spokesman. Under the entry arrangements, holders of the Macao special administrative region (SAR) passport or the Macao SAR travel permit with Macao identity cards for not less than two years may transit Hong Kong for seven days visa-free. Holders of Visit Permit for residents of Macao to HKSAR for the purpose of tourism or visiting relatives may stay for 14 days visa-free. Holders of Visit Permit for residents of Macao to HKSAR for the purposes of employment, study, joining family or extending their visit period should apply to Hong Kong Immigration Department for permission. "After the Macao reunification, government departments of the two SARs will continue to work and discuss on entry arrangements to Hong Kong for Macao residents," the spokesman added. |