Scrapping of visa-free 14-day stay for Indians: India conveys concerns to Hong Kong

New Delhi: India has conveyed to Hong Kong that it is important that visa and immigration system help people-to-people exchanges and not create additional hurdles after it scrapped visa-free 14-day stay for Indians.

Minister of state for external affairs Gen. (retd.) V.K. Singh in a written reply to Lok Sabha said Hong Kong has also been reminded of India’s liberalisation of visa system for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport holders through online visa facility.

Earlier Indians who visited Hong Kong for less than 14 days for tourism and such purposes could enter without first obtaining visa. However, since January 23, Hong Kong authorities have introduced mandatory pre-arrival registration.

According to the Hong Kong information services department website, “From January 23, Indian nationals must apply for and complete online pre-arrival registration before enjoying their 14-day visa-free visit, or entering Hong Kong during transit. Registration is free. The computer system will display the result instantly once the registration is made.”