Streamlined immigration procedures for APEC business travellers

Business travellers from APEC member states and territories will be able to enjoy streamlined immigration clearance with the introduction of the APEC Business Travel Card.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department announced today (May 13) that following the implementation of the scheme by Indonesia on May 1, all 14 participating economies have begun producing APEC Business Travel Cards and processing pre-clearance applications referred from other scheme members.

The APEC economies committed to the travel scheme are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.

The APEC Business Travel Card is issued to business travellers within the APEC economies for promoting business in the region.

The card is normally valid for three years and good for multiple visits of two to three months without visas to participating economies that have granted pre-clearance to the cardholders.

They will enjoy streamlined immigration clearance on presentation of the card and their valid travel documents.

The Immigration Department says bona fide business people residing in Hong Kong can apply for an ABTC if they hold a Hong Kong permanent identity card and a valid national passport; have not previously been denied entry to any of the participating economies; have never been convicted of a criminal offence; and need to travel frequently on short term visits within the APEC region to fulfil business commitments.

Ends/Thursday, May 13, 2004