Relaxed Requirements and Simpler Formalities for The Macao SAR Residents Travelling to The Hong Kong SAR

The Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has reached a common consensus on ‘Travel facilitation for Macao residents entering/exiting Hong Kong’, and this morning, a memorandum was signed by representatives from both parties. As preparation work, including setting up, revising, and publishing relevant regulations, is necessary, the relevant measures will preliminarily come into effect on 18 October, with the relevant details being announced first. A. Contents 1. Relaxing the requirements on entering Hong Kong: 1) Cancellation of the restriction on Macao non-permanent residents with Chinese or Portuguese nationality that they need to have obtained Macao Resident Identity Card for two years or more in order to visit Hong Kong.
Ø The above residents can apply for «Visit Permit for Residents of Macao SAR to Hong Kong SAR» (hereinafter referred as «Visit Permit to Hong Kong») after they have obtained their Resident Identity Card.
Ø Beneficiaries include: Persons with One-Way Exit Permit of the People’s Republic of China, persons with Temporary Residence Authorization issued for family reunion or investment immigration etc., and the number amounts to approximately 10,000. 2) Cancellation of the restriction on holders of «Macao SAR Travel Permit» that they need to have obtained Macao Resident Identity Card for two years or more in order to transit through Hong Kong.
Ø Certain common transit requirements still apply if the individual is travelling from Macao to Hong Kong.
Ø The maximum transit period allowed is 7 days. 2. Simplification on the Formalities
Holders of Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card», who do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong, do not need to present other travel documents when entering or exiting Hong Kong. Holders are only required to present their ID cards and the particular «Declaration Form for Holders of Macao Special Administrative Region Permanent Resident Identity Card to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region» (hereinafter referred as «Declaration Form»). This Declaration Form differs from the declaration forms used by other visitors entering Hong Kong borders. (Please refer to the section of «Declaration Form» for details) Holders of Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card», who require visas to enter Hong Kong, can enter/exit Hong Kong borders by presenting their ID cards and Declaration Form, after having been verified and notified by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR that they do not need extra visa application to enter Hong Kong. (Please refer to the section of “Verification Arrangement” for details) The above individuals can enter/exit Hong Kong at different entry/exit borders. Every time, they are allowed to stay in Hong Kong as visitors for a maximum of 14 days. However, they are not allowed to apply for extending their stay in Hong Kong or changing their visitor status. The above individuals must at the same time meet the common entry requirements of the Hong Kong SAR. Otherwise, they will be rejected entry by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR. Holders of «Macao Resident Identity Card» or Electronic «Macao SAR Non-Permanent Resident Identity Card» still need to apply for «Visit Permit to Hong Kong» or other travel documents when travelling to Hong Kong. B. «Declaration Form» 1. Format
Ø The forms are printed exclusively by the Government Printing Bureau of the Macao SAR. Forging or using forged «Declaration Form» is a criminal offence.
Ø «Declaration Form» contains security features. 2. How to obtain «Declaration Form»
Ø The «Declaration Form» can be printed by simply inserting the electronic ID card into the Self-Service Kiosk, and PIN is not required.
Ø The personal data on the ID card surface such as surname, given name, sex, date of birth, number and issue date of Permanent Resident ID Card etc., the applicant’s photo from the chip, and the OCR reading lines that follows the ICAO standard are printed on the «Declaration Form».
Ø «Declaration Form» is temporary free of charge. 3. The Self-Service Kiosk that prints the «Declaration Form» operates 24 hours a day, and are situated at the following locations in Macao:
Ø The entry/exit lobby, or the restricted area after passing immigration of the Macao Ferry Terminal.
If the chip is damaged, the individual can first pass the check-in counter, and then request the officer on duty to print the form at the back office of the Immigration Department.
Ø Identification Department.
If the chip is damaged, please request assistance from the department personnel during office hours.
Ø Preliminarily, each cardholder can print 3 forms per day. 4. The items to be filled in the «Declaration Form» include: nationality, home address, address in Hong Kong, and method of transportation. 5. For smoother entry at the border, one should fold the «Declaration Form» inwards and safeguard it properly. 6. Visitor should present his/her completed «Declaration Form» when entering Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Immigration officer will stamp on the form. The same «Declaration Form» must be presented when exiting Hong Kong, and the form will be returned to the visitor after the Hong Kong immigration officer has stamped on the form. 7. Visitor should always carry the «Declaration Form» with entry stamp while staying in Hong Kong, for its inspection by the competent authority of the Hong Kong SAR Government, such as its inspection by policemen. 8. For visitors travelling to other places via Hong Kong and returning to Macao via Hong Kong, please note that:
Ø Visitors travelling to Mainland China must prepare two «Declaration Form»s, one for entering Hong Kong from Macao and one for entering Hong Kong from China.
Ø Similarly, visitors travelling to places other than Mainland China can prepare two «Declaration Form»s. If only one «Declaration Form» is prepared, the individual must present travel document, such as valid passport, for stamping at the border when entering Hong Kong from other places. 9. Visitor with Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» may be refused entry if he/she does not have «Declaration Form» when entering Hong Kong. 10. If the Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» has been renewed, the «Declaration Form» printed from the former Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» will no longer be applicable, and the individual must use the «Declaration Form» printed from the new Electronic ID card when entering Hong Kong. 11. Loss of «Declaration Form» in Hong Kong:
Ø During Office Hours: One should report loss at the Immigration Department of the HKSAR (Extension Section, 5th Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai). For query, please call (852) 28246111.
Ø During Non-Office Hours (urgent necessity of returning to Macao): One can contact Harbour Control Section of the Immigration Department of the HKSAR at (852) 254301958 for special arrangement. C. Verification Arrangement Currently, Immigration Department of the HKSAR has enforced the policy of visa requirement on the nationals of 41 countries or regions, holders of stateless travel documents, and holders of special travel documents (hereinafter referred as “Individuals who need visa to enter Hong Kong”). Hence, even though the above individuals have obtained Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card», they are still not allowed to enter Hong Kong with Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» and «Declaration Form» directly. The abovementioned 41 countries or regions are: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cuba, Eritrea, Georgia, Grenada, Iran, Iraq, Kazakstan, Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), Kyrgystan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova (Republic of), Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine (State of), Panama, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam. The abovementioned “special travel documents” are: Costa Rican Provisional passports, Documento de Identidad Y Viaje issued by Costa Rican Government, Special Peruvian passports, Tongan National passports and Tongan Protected Persons passports, Uruguay passports issued under Decree 289/90, Tuvalu (with national status stated as ‘I-TUVALU’) and Vatican Service passports. After negotiation between both parties, the Immigration Department of the HKSAR agrees to make special verification arrangement for the MSAR, and the details are as follows: 1. Participation in the arrangement is voluntary. 2. Identification Department (hereinafter referred as “DSI”) will first issue official letters to all MSAR Permanent Residents who would need a visa to enter Hong Kong, requesting for their consents on DSI providing their personal information to the Immigration Department of the HKSAR. A Notice on the “Statement of Purpose for Personal Data Collection” from the Immigration Department of the HKSAR will be attached to the letter. Once the “Individuals who need visa to enter HK” sign the Agreement, DSI will provide the relevant data to the Immigration Department of the HKSAR for preliminary verification. 3. The Immigration Department of the HKSAR will inform DSI about the result of the verification, and DSI will notify the relevant individual. 4. As informed by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR, the individuals that will not require additional visa applications can enter Hong Kong with Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» and «Declaration Form». On the contrary, the relevant individuals must apply for Hong Kong visas. Moreover, they are neither allowed to use Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» to enter Hong Kong nor print «Declaration Form» using the Self-Service Kiosk. 5. The verification result will remain valid until DSI receives further notification from the Immigration Department of the HKSAR. If the verification result becomes invalid, DSI will inform the relevant individual as soon as possible and modify the Self-Service Kiosk to prohibit the individual from printing the «Declaration Form». 6. The Immigration Department of the HKSAR can refuse the above individuals entry if they do not conform to the common entry requirements of the Hong Kong SAR. The Immigration Department of the HKSAR will always review the visa arrangement and make changes. Upon receiving notification from the Immigration Department of the HKSAR, DSI will modify the Self-Service Kiosk accordingly (omit or add in the relevant individuals allowed to obtain «Declaration Form»). As of today, the number of MSAR permanent residents who require visas to enter Hong Kong is approximately 435. D. Other Information Eligible individuals can still enter Hong Kong using their valid «Visit Permit to HK », and can continue to renew their expired «Visit Permit to HK » at DSI. Currently, the number of Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» holder is approximately 124,000. DSI will start the mass replacement process (according to the ID number) by the end of this year. Consequently, more and more citizens will benefit from Electronic «Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card» when travelling to Hong Kong. Furthermore, once the replacement process finishes in early 2007, the number of individuals involved will increase to 440,000.