Hong Kong passport holders may now spend up to 60 days in Thailand visa-free, the Immigration Department has announced. The department said on Tuesday that Thailand had extended the period of visa-free entry for holders of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport from 30 to 60 days, adding that it would bring “great travel convenience” to Hongkongers. Thailand, which is located along China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has a “close relationship” with Hong Kong in terms of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, a spokesperson for the Immigration Department said.
“Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this extension of the period of visa-free entry will bring greater travel convenience to holders of HKSAR passports and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the two places,” a statement from the government read. Chief Executive John Lee met Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Hong Kong last October, when the pair agreed to promote more exchanges. Lee also said at the time that Hong Kong would eye stronger economic and trade ties with member states of ASEAN, which is the city’s second largest trading partner.
China and Thailand have vowed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, including maintaining high-level exchanges, speeding up the construction of the China-Thailand Railway and promoting tourism under mutual visa exemption. As of Tuesday, Hong Kong passport holders may enter 172 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa obtained upon arrival. Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team.
