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Mexico has begun processing APEC Business Travel Cards (ABTC) under the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme.
An Immigration Department spokesman said the scheme aimed to enhance the mobility of business travellers within the APEC economies, so promoting business within the region.
Eighteen economies are currently participating in the scheme - Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Peopleˇ¦s Republic of China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam.
In Hong Kong, applications for ABTC are open to people holding Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards and valid national passports. Applicants must be bona fide businesspeople, have no criminal record, and they must not have been refused entry to any of the participating economies. Applicants also need to travel frequently on short-term business visits to the APEC economies.
The ABTC is the size of a credit card. It is normally valid for three years. The card is good for multiple visits of two to three months to participating economies without the need for a visa. Cardholders enjoy streamlined immigration clearance through a special lane at control points of participating economies.
The spokesman said the US and Canada had started providing special service lanes to ABTC holders at their major international airports. ABTC holders should follow signage with the APEC logo to access the special service lane for passenger clearance. However, they are still subject to the normal immigration clearance process such as presenting valid passports and where applicable, valid visas for US/Canada.
Ends/Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:41
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