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With effect from January 25, 1999, persons holding passports issued by the Kiribati Government with the status on the data page of the passport stated as 'INVESTOR' or 'N-KIRIBATI' and persons holding passports issued by the Tuvalu Government with the national status on the data page of the passport stated as 'I-TUVALU' require visas for travelling to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region unless they are in direct transit and remain on the airside.

A spokesman for the Immigration Department said :"Holders of these travel documents require visas because we understand that they are not nationals of these countries. After the change, these persons may submit applications for visas for the HKSAR to a Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or to the HKSAR Immigration Department either directly or through a local sponsor."

"These arrangements do not affect Kiribati or Tuvalu nationals holding valid Kiribati or Tuvalu passports. They may visit Hong Kong visa-free for a stay of not more than 3 months, provided that normal immigration requirements are met," the spokesman added.

End/Saturday, January 23, 1999

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