The Director of Immigration, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, today (September 6) signed the document, Memorandum on "Enhanced Travel Convenience for Macao Residents Travelling to Hong Kong Arrangements", with the Director of the Identification Department of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government, Mr Isaac Lai Ieng-kit.

The measures for the enhanced travel convenience include the following:

(a) Eligible Macao permanent residents may visit Hong Kong by producing their Macao Smart Permanent Identity Card together with a specified declaration form and they may stay for a maximum of 14 days;

(b) Macao residents of Chinese or Portuguese nationality who have held Macao identity cards for less than two years may visit Hong Kong by using a Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR and stay for a maximum of 14 days, just like Macao residents of Chinese or Portuguese nationality who have held Macao identity cards for two years or longer; and

(c) Macao SAR Travel Permit holders who have held Macao identity cards for less than two years may transit in Hong Kong for a maximum of seven days without the need to apply for a separate entry permit, just like travel permit holders who have held Macao identity cards for two years or longer.

The first measure will be introduced in mid-October (this year) while the other two measures will be effective late this month (September).

The Director of Immigration said at the ceremony that when the new arrangements came into effect, Macao permanent residents would be able to visit Hong Kong by producing their Macao Smart Permanent Identity Cards together with the declaration form, without the need to hold other travel documents.

"This is a great move in the immigration arrangements between the Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR to enhance travel convenience for the citizens," he said.

Macao's Mr Lai said the signing of the memorandum signified a new era of exchange and cooperation between the two regions. He said that as well as enhancing travel convenience, it would also promote development in a number of ways.

He added that a total of 450,000 Macao residents, or 93.7% of the population, would benefit from the arrangements, including 440,000 Macao permanent residents who may visit Hong Kong by producing their Macao Smart Permanent Identity Card and 10,000 Macao residents who have been exempted from the requirement to hold Macao identity cards for at least two years before being allowed entry to Hong Kong.

An Immigration spokesman said he expected Macau residents would welcome the new entry arrangements. "The number of Macao visitors may increase as a result, hence benefiting tourism and related industries. Immigration integrity and security will not be compromised under the new arrangements," he said.