We have considered issuing only one type of MTP for both visitors and businessmen. In order that businessmen do not enjoy less convenience than they are now enjoying as a result of the change, such permits would have to be good for multiple visits of 14 days on each occasion, with possibility for extensions; and there would have to be no restriction on the duration of stay in any calendar month. The advantages of this proposal are that it would be easier to administer and it would be welcomed by tourists and the associated trade. disadvantages, however, are -
(a) such a relaxation on social visitors may undermine the existing immigration control on them, e.g. exploitation of the longer period of stay and unlimited numbers of visit to take up employment.
Unlike applications from businessmen, those from social visitors are only perfunctorily checked, possibility for exploitation is real; and
(b)
and
the
statistics from the Hong Kong Tourist Association show that the average stay of Taiwanese visitors in 1988 was 2.6 days, and in 1989, 2.3 days. Limiting social visitors to seven days on each occasion is therefore adequate for most tourists.
The
This, however, will be reviewed after MTPS have been introduced for one year.
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We have also considered whether the MTPs should be valid for a longer period e.g. two years. However, for security and immigration control reasons, Immigration. Department should initially be able to vet applicants at least once а year. The permit can be renewed locally in Hong Kong and an application for renewal will be processed within two working days. This, however, will also be reviewed after the MTPS have been introduced for one year.
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With the introduction of the MTPs, we will cease to issue multiple visit visas for Taiwanese businessmen. Single journey permits will remain available to those social visitors who do not need multiple visit facilities or who require a longer period of stay than seven days. Double journey visit permits for social visitors will not normally be issued but group permits will remain available.