LCQ15: Mutual visa exemption arrangements with "Belt and Road" countries
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Question:
Regarding the entry arrangements for nationals of the countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (commonly known as "Belt and Road") and residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) visiting each other, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the Belt and Road countries which at present have not granted visa-free access to SAR passport holders; whether it has plans to lobby the authorities of such countries to grant visa-free access to SAR passport holders;
(2) whether it knows the Belt and Road countries which at present have granted visa-free access to the People's Republic of China passport holders but not to SAR passport holders;
(3) of the current respective numbers of the Belt and Road countries whose nationals (i) have been granted and (ii) have not been granted visa-free access by SAR Government, and what such countries are respectively;
(4) whether it has plans to discuss with the authorities of the Belt and Road countries which have not signed visa abolition agreements with SAR Government on making such agreements; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) given that as some of the Belt and Road countries which have not granted visa-free access to SAR passport holders do not have consulates in Hong Kong, SAR passport holders have to go to the embassies/consulates of such countries in Mainland China to apply for visas, whether the Government will discuss with the authorities of such countries to formulate simpler visa arrangements; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
My consolidated reply to Hon Ng's question is as follows:
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has all along been lobbying for visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders with a view to maximising travel convenience for Hong Kong residents. Apart from raising the issue with relevant Embassies in our country and local Consulates from time to time, Economic and Trade Offices of the HKSAR Government have called on government officials and parliamentary members of the countries concerned to solicit their support for granting visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders. When calling on foreign officials and attending relevant international conferences and seminars, officials of the HKSAR Government also take the opportunity to lobby for visa-free access to more countries for HKSAR passport holders. Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to promoting the HKSAR passport. Whenever an opportunity arises, we would invite senior foreign officials and diplomatic personnel visiting Hong Kong to observe the production of HKSAR passports on the ground, and demonstrate to them the integrity of the production system and the passport's state-of-the-art anti-forgery features.
With the on-going efforts of the HKSAR Government over the years, the total number of countries and territories having granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders has increased from around 40 during the initial stage following the handover to 157 at present, they include countries along the Belt and Road.
Currently, among the 60 or so Belt and Road countries, 42 have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders; 22 others have not, where 13 of them have not granted the same to holders of the People's Republic of China (PRC) ordinary passport as well. According to the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, the remaining nine of them have unilaterally granted visa-on-arrival to PRC ordinary passport holders. Details are at Annex 1. For those countries which have not granted visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders, their requirements and procedures for processing visa applications vary according to the administrative arrangements of the individual countries.
Hong Kong has all along adopted an open immigration policy to facilitate entry of bona-fide visitors. At present, nationals of about 170 foreign countries and territories, including some Belt and Road countries, may visit Hong Kong visa-free. Among the present 60 or so Belt and Road countries, eligible nationals from totally 40 of them may visit Hong Kong visa-free for a stay ranging from seven to 90 days; while nationals from 24 other countries require a visa, in general, for visiting Hong Kong. Details are at Annex 2.
The HKSAR Government reviews its visa policy from time to time. Factors to be considered in the review include immigration control and security concerns, bilateral economic, social and cultural ties between Hong Kong and the country concerned, track records of its nationals visiting Hong Kong and the circumstances of the individual country. In negotiating mutual visa exemption arrangements with other countries, the HKSAR Government will make holistic consideration with a view to providing more travel convenience to HKSAR passport holders and genuine visitors to Hong Kong on the one hand, and maintaining effective immigration control on the other. Whether to grant visa-free access to passport holders of other countries or territories is a matter for the individual countries.
The HKSAR Government will continue to consider negotiating with other countries on mutual visa exemption arrangements in light of the actual circumstances, and strive for visa-free access to more countries for HKSAR passport holders, including those yet to grant reciprocal facilitation.
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:03
Issued at HKT 19:03
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