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The Immigration Department announced today (Thursday) that the APEC Business Travel Card Trial-run Scheme to enhance the mobility of business travellers within the APEC economies for promotion of business within the region has commenced.

"The APEC Business Travel Card is in the size of a credit card and valid for 5 years (3 years for those issued under the trial-run scheme). The card will enable the holder to make multiple visits of two months to participating economies without visa," a spokesperson of the Immigration Department said.

"Card holders will also enjoy streamlined immigration clearance procedure at the control points of participating economies. In Hong Kong, they will be allowed to use 'Hong Kong Residents' counters where available."

The APEC economies participating in the trial-run of the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme are Australia, Chile, HKSAR, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. In the trial-run scheme, Hong Kong will issue a maximum of 2,000 cards.

Applications will be accepted only from those who are invited to apply. Trade-related organisations have been invited to nominate eligible applicants.

"An eligible applicant of Hong Kong should be a bona fide business person who needs to travel frequently on short term visits within the APEC region to fulfil business commitments. In addition, he must hold a Hong Kong permanent identity card and a valid national passport; has not previously been denied entry to any of the participating countries; and has never been convicted of a criminal offence," the spokesperson added.

More information about the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme can be obtained from the Immigration Department on telephone number (852) 2824 6111 or by fax (852) 2877 7711 or through the Internet http://www.info.gov.hk/immd/.

End/Thursday, June 11, 1998

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Immigration Department

11 June l998