The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government introduced recently a Travel Pass Pilot Scheme to enhance the mobility of business travellers when they visit Hong Kong.

"The Travel Pass valid for 3 years and multiple entries will enable the holder to come to the HKSAR without a visa for business or social visit purposes and stay up to 2 months on each entry," the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Mr. Donald Tong, said today.

"Travel Pass holders will be allowed to use 'residents' counters where available at the HKSAR immigration control points and can enjoy streamlined immigration clearance.

"Application is open to frequent visitors who hold valid passports and are eligible to come to HKSAR without a visa or entry permit for visit purpose.

"They should have genuine needs to visit Hong Kong frequently and have come for visits trouble free on five or more occasions (other than return from side trips to the Mainland of China or the region of Macau) in the 12-month period immediately preceding the application, or they can satisfy the Director of Immigration that their visits may bring substantial economic benefits to the HKSAR." he said.

The Pilot Scheme, with a quota of 10,000, is now open to applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Application forms and guidance notes for the Scheme is available free of charge from the Information Office of the Immigration Department, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto.

Completed application forms may be submitted by post, in person or through a reference in the HKSAR to the Visitors Section (Travel Pass Application Unit), Immigration Department, 6/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Fee for the Travel Pass is HK$500 or C$93.50*. A cashier order, bank draft drawn on a bank in the HKSAR or a crossed cheque from a bank account in the HKSAR in Hong Kong currency to the 'The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region' should be submitted together with the application form.

Persons who wish to have more information about the Travel Pass Pilot Scheme may contact the Immigration Department on telephone number (852) 2824 6111, by fax (852) 2877 7711 or through the internet http://www.info.gov.hk/immd/.

For further information, please contact Frank Chuan, Chief Information Officer or Stephen Siu, Senior Information Officer at tel: (416) 924 5544. u

* Exchange rate on February 4, 1998 is C$1 = HK$5.33.