Macao Special Administrative Region and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed today a memorandum on easier entry regulations for Macao SAR residents. According to the memorandum, permanent residents of Macao SAR who have the Electronic Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card (with computer chips included) may enter Hong Kong SAR with their resident identity Card and a special declaration form. The new regulations do not extend to those who need a traveling visa to enter Hong Kong currently, including nationals of 41 countries and holders of certain traveling documents. However, they may enjoy visa-free entry to Hong Kong by applying to a special varification arrangement, if they agreed to have the Macao SAR Identity Bureau submitting their personal information to the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department. There are currently 435 Macao SAR permanent residents who need visa to enter Hong Kong; they will be contacted by the identification Department individually for their willingness to do so. The new regulations also include a lift of the ban on non permanent Macao residents who obtained their identity card for less than two years to apply for the Visit Permit to HK SAR. The new regulations were scheduled to be in effect from 18 October. The Special declaration form can be obtained through Self-Service Kiosk at the Macao Ferry Terminal and the Macao Identification Bureau. Currently, the number of Electronic Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card holder is approximately 124,000. DSI will start the mass replacement process by the end of this year. Consequently, when travelling to Hong Kong. Furthermore, once the replacement process finishes in early 2007, the number of individuals involved will increase to 440,000.
