Hong Kong expects to sign a mutual visa-free access agreement with Russia in the near future, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Wednesday.
"This will be the first such agreement signed by Russia with a developed economy, and will help promote the trade and tourism development between our two economies," Tsang said in an annual policy address delivered at the Legislative Council.
Tsang also said the HKSAR was about to conclude an agreement with the nearby Macao Special Administrative Region to further streamline clearance for residents traveling between the two places, with the measures expected to take effect in mid-2009.
Tsang also mentioned measures expected to make traveling between the HKSAR and Taiwan more convenient, the removal of the restriction limiting a person to two iPermit applications within each 30-day period, and the extension the limit of stay in Hong Kong from 14 days to 30 days for holders of iPermits and multiple-entry permits.
Tsang said the HKSAR, a well-known free trade hub that has secured mutual visa-free access or visa-on-arrival arrangements with more than 130 countries and regions, "must continue to attract business visitors and tourists from around the world."
The passenger traffic in and out of Hong Kong continued to rise last year, almost topping 220 million trips, he said.
Source:Xinhua
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