XN000022-1974-01-11 — Page 6

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Friday, January 11, 1974

LARGER PASSPORTS FOR FREQUENT TRAVELLERS

Now large-size passports will soon be made available to Hong

Kong residents who travel very frequently, to reduce inconvenience caused

by having to renew standard-size passports at short intervals.

These large-size passports will have 94 pages, compared with 30

pages on the standard-size ones. They will cost $120 each while the old

ones will still cost $60.

Regulations precribing the fee for these large-size passports

are published under the Immigration (Amendment) Regulations 1974 in today's

Gazette.

Explaining the new provision, a spokesman for the Immigration

Department said this was based on the recent introduction of similar passports

in the United Kingdon on a limited and experimental basis.

He made it clear that the large-size Hong Kong passports will only

be issued to people who can establish a genuine need. Others will still

be issued with the old standard-size passports.

"Both types will conform with the standard format of United

Kingdom-type passports," he added.

Five thousand of the large-size passports have been ordered and

the shipment is expected to arrive next month, after which they will be

ready for issue immediately.

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