Hong Kong Will No Longer Provide Visa-On-Arrival For Indians, Know About It And The New Guidelines
Source: timesofindia | Representative image: vietnam-legal | maamatimanush
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR) has caused major setbacks to Indian travelers, declaring that they will no longer provide entry visas to Indians. From January 23 next year, Indian nationals will need to register before they can enter Hong Kong.
“The pre-entry online registration service for Indian nationals is now open,” the Immigration Department said in a statement posted on its official website. “The notice also reads” Indian citizens must visit or transit Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (If entering the HKSAR during transit), registration must be made on-line and successfully completed prior to arrival.
This step is seen as a great setback to improve trade relations and foreign diplomacy.
The new guidelines
Starting next month, Indians traveling to Hong Kong must register online and complete all pre-immigration procedures in advance of their visit. Passport requirements are for any Indian national with a passport valid for at least six months.
Applicants who have cleared the pre-enrollment process will receive a six-month pass. This is a multiple entry visa, with a maximum duration of 14 days for each visit.
Approval and registration are valid for six months or until the Indian passport associated with the registration expires. Whichever comes first.
However, holders of valid diplomatic or official passports, as well as those who frequently access electronic services, are exempt from pre-registration online.
Travel directly by plane, do not intend to leave the airport passengers do not need to arrive before the registration.
Visitors who plan to visit Hong Kong for more than 14 days or who travel outside employment (eg employment, education or residence) must apply for a visa from the Immigration Department.
Existing Rule
Indians unconditionally, visa-free access to Hong Kong for 14 days.
Why a sudden change in visa policy?
According to Indian officials, Hong Kong wants to curb the number of asylum seekers from India, which is one of the largest contributors to the local economy.
The Assistant Director of Immigration, Mr Ma Chi-ming, urged visitors from India to refrain from entering false information in order to increase their access to Hong Kong for economic asylum. He said that it was found that doing so would face legal consequences.
Since the end of the Chinese war in 1949, Hong Kong has a history of asylum seekers from Southeast Asia. Now, it has a large number of asylum seekers from all over the world. Gradually, by April 2015, there are 9,900 international citizens seeking asylum. Most of them are in Southeast Asia and India.
The Hong Kong Government provides subsidized accommodation, free food and basic medical care free of charge to all applicants as they can not work until the visa is finalized. As a result, they are witnessing long queues of international citizens waiting to enter their country.
China is also likely to exert pressure on Hong Kong. In 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China. After the Sino-British Joint Declaration came into force in 1984, China has been opposed to India’s position in Arunachal Pradesh, Tibet and, more recently, Pakistan.
