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Due to the war in Iraq, nationals of Eritrea and Pakistan who now enjoy 14-day visa-free visits to Hong Kong will, from Monday (March 31), require a visa to visit or transit in Hong Kong.

- The Immigration Department has also increased its scrutiny of visa applications from nationals of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Sudan and Syria until further notice, a spokesman said today (March 28).

"Hong Kong has all along adopted a liberal visa policy on the entry of foreign visitors," he said. "At present, nationals of some 170 countries and territories may visit Hong Kong without a visa and stay for durations of between seven and 180 days."

The Immigration Department regularly reviews its visa policies and will take into account factors such as the social, economic and political situations of countries and territories concerned to devise a policy that will grant visas to genuine visitors while maintaining effective immigration control. The department will continue to review its policies in the light of ongoing developments.

End/Friday, March 28, 2003

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