 |
EU Grants Visa-Free Access to HKSAR Passport Holders
The Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) announced Friday the decision to grant visa-free access to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport holders.
The Council Regulation would be published in the Official Journal and it would come into operation 20 days after publication.
When implemented next month, the Council Regulation will enable HKSAR passport holders to visit 13 more member states visa-free for a stay of not more than three months.
Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the HKSAR, welcomed the adoption of a Council Regulation on Visa Policy by the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council.
"This is a milestone achievement in our efforts to enhance travel convenience for HKSAR passport holders," he said. "The visa-free arrangement is a definitive vote of confidence of the EU in
the 'one country, two systems' arrangement."
Regina Ip, secretary for security, said the HKSAR government will continue to do its best to enhance travel convenience for Hong Kong residents.
"We warmly welcome this very positive decision which will further strengthen economic, cultural and tourist ties between Hong Kong and Europe," she said.
The EU is Hong Kong's third largest trading partner. The decision, when implemented, will bring to 86 the total number of countries or territories granting visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders.
In This Section
|