Beijing’s move to expand a travel scheme for mainland residents to visit Hong Kong shows President Xi Jinping’s care and support for the city, Chief Executive John Lee has said.
Beijing announced on Friday afternoon that residents from two more cities – Xian and Qingdao – are allowed to visit Hong Kong on an individual visa.
Currently, residents from 49 cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan can visit Hong Kong under the individual visit scheme.
The National Immigration Administration of China said on Friday in a Chinese statement that the expanded travel scheme will come into effect on March 6. Residents of Xian and Qingdao can apply for four types of visa: a visa valid for three months, two visas valid for three months, a visa valid for one year, or two visas valid for one year.
