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With the commissioning of the second runway, the new airport will further enhance Hong Kong's status as a leading aviation centre, a leading centre for trade and financial services and leading tourism destination.
I am confident that the Authority will carry on with the good work to be done in the years to come. The new airport at Chek Lap Kok will prove to be an excellent investment for Hong Kong and the pride of Hong Kong people.
End
Transit facility for PRC nationals
Following is a question by the Hon Howard Young and a reply by the acting Secretary for Security, Mrs Carrie Yau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
There has been a rapid increase in the number of People's Republic of China (PRC) passport holders visiting the territory on transit which benefits Hong Kong's tourism industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether such holders are allowed to visit Macau and re-enter Hong Kong within the 7-day visa-free period and whether, on re-entering from Macau, they may be granted an additional visa-free period in excess of the original 7-day visa-free period; if so, whether there are any measures to encourage tourism on the one hand and avoid the system being used to prolong overstaying unnecessarily on the other?
Reply:
Mr President,
With effect from
August 1993, PRC nationals in China transiting through Hong Kong to or from overseas countries are allowed a visa-free stay of up to seven days as visitors provided that they have valid passports, confirmed booking and valid visas for their overseas destinations. The purpose of this arrangement is to facilitate their overseas travel by connecting flights in Hong Kong or stopping over here before returning to China. This transit facility is however not allowed for journeys from China to Macau since PRC nationals in China can go to Macau direct.