********************************
Following is a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, to a question by the Hon Howard Young (asked by the Hon Vincent Fang) on visas for Russian visitors in the Legislative Council today (June 6):
Question:
Regarding Russian nationals visiting Hong Kong as tourists, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of Russian tourists who visited Hong Kong in each of the past five years, and among them, the number of those who joined a package tour to Hong Kong;
(b) of the existing channels through which Russian nationals may apply for entry visas to visit Hong Kong, and the number of applications received in the past five years as well as the average processing time taken in respect of each channel; and
(c) whether it will consider granting visa-free access to Russian nationals, if so, when it will be implemented; if not, the reasons for that, and the measures to further simplify the formalities for visa application and shorten the time required?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The numbers of Russian tourists who visited Hong Kong in the past five years are:
Year Visitor arrivals
---- ----------------
2002 13,248
2003 10,123
2004 19,121
2005 23,318
2006 29,708
2007 (Jan - Apr) 12,252
The Tourism Board and the Immigration Department (ImmD) do not have the breakdown statistics for Russian tourists joining tour groups in visiting Hong Kong.
(b) At present, Russian tourists are required to obtain visa before visiting Hong Kong. There are two channels for visa applications.
The first one is to submit the applications to the nearest Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions (CDCMs). The relevant CDCMs will process straightforward applications, and refer the more complicated ones to ImmD for processing. We do not have the statistics on the number of visas issued by CDCMs. According to our understanding, CDCMs may issue visas within one week.
The second channel is to submit the applications direct or through a sponsor in Hong Kong to ImmD. For the past five years, the application figures are as follows:
Year Visa Application Received (Note)
---- --------------------------------
2002 373
2003 197
2004 315
2005 524
2006 686
2007(Jan - Apr) 173
Note: Including visa applications direct to ImmD and cases referred
by CDCMs.
ImmD will process all visa applications as soon as possible. It has pledged to complete the processing within four weeks upon receipt of the applications and the relevant documents. ImmD had by and large met the performance pledge in the past five years. In the light of the circumstances of an individual case, the Department will also accord priority in processing an application where the applicant needs to visit Hong Kong urgently.
(c) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government reviews its visa policy from time to time. Our aim is to ensure that while effective immigration control is maintained on one hand, maximum travel convenience is accorded to bona fide visitors and businessmen on the other hand so as to attract more visitors to Hong Kong, thereby promoting inbound tourism and economic development. In reviewing our visa policy, we will, apart from considering the factors of immigration control and security, also take into account the bilateral economic and trade relations, reciprocity and the circumstances of individual country or territory. At present, we have no plan to grant visa-free access to Russian nationals.
Nevertheless, ImmD is considering to relax the requirements for Russian nationals to apply for Multiple Visit Visa (MVV). Holders of the MVV are allowed to visit Hong Kong for unlimited times within a period of 24 months and good for a stay of not more than 14 days in each trip.
Currently, one of the prerequisites in applying for the MVV is that the applicant must have visited Hong Kong three times or more in the past 12 months (not including those re-entry into Hong Kong after side trips to the Mainland China or Macau) with trouble free records. We are considering to allow a Russian national who does not meet the requirement but secured proof from relevant organisations certifying his business purpose of visit to apply for MVV. The relevant organisations include the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and the officially recognised organisations in Russia.
Besides, the ImmD is considering to further streamline the present "Fast Track Visa Services for Russian Group Tours from Mainland".
ImmD will study and implement the proposed measures as soon as possible.
Ends/Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:46
NNNN
