Reply:
- 28
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
(c)
Since the introduction of the visa-free seven-day transit arrangement for PRC passport holders on 1 August 1993, the average number of PRC travellers overstaying the seven-day transit period has been 69 per month, or about 1,240 in total.
We have regularly reviewed the policy since its introduction. The most recent reviews were conducted in June and in December 1994. We concluded that the arrangement was generally working well, but there had also been problems. In addition to the issue of overstaying, to which the Honourable Member refers, a fair number of PRC transitees have abused the system by, for example, failing to proceed to onward destinations, or engaging in unauthorised work, or using forged travel documents. Consequently the Immigration Department has stepped up screening efforts at the control points, and will continue to liaise closely with the Chinese side, through the Border Liaison Channel, to clamp down on such abuses.
The introduction of this visa-free arrangement has improved convenience for PRC passport-holders travelling through Hong Kong. It has also reduced the workload on the Immigration Department. But in view of the existence of such abuses, I do not believe that the time is right to relax our policy any further at this stage. Nevertheless, we will keep the matter under review from time to time.
End/Wednesday, February 15, 1995
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