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Anyone intending to travel abroad during the Christmas holiday is reminded to apply for travel document as early as possible.

"The number of people travelling abroad may greatly increase during this time of the year. In order to avoid last minute rush, members of the public are advised to apply for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports well in advance of their trips," a spokesman for the Immigration Department said.

Under the present arrangement, applications for HKSAR passports can be submitted to the Immigration Department by post or depositing into the drop-in boxes installed at the Immigration headquarters or any Immigration branch offices. The normal processing time for the HKSAR passport is 15 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and General Holidays).

Up to now, a total of 93 countries have granted visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders.

Application forms and information leaflets on application procedures and documents required are obtainable from the Immigration headquarters and all Immigration branch offices. For enquiry, members of the public may contact Immigration Department at telephone number 2824 6111, by fax to 2877 7711 or through the Internet http://www.info.gov.hk/immd/.

"Other than applications for Hong Kong travel documents, applications for identity cards and other Registration of Persons services may also be on high demand during this time of the year. To avoid congestion, applicants are also requested to submit their applications well before school/public holidays. Furthermore, applicants who wish to apply for identity cards are encouraged to make use of the Registration for Identity Cards 24-hour Automated Telephone Appointment Booking System at Tel: 2598 0888 or via the Internet: http://www.esd.gov.hk," added the spokesman.

End/Sunday, November 4, 2001

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