Response from the People's Government of Guangdong Province on the Proposal Raised in the First Session of the 13^th National People's Congress

21 August 2018

In order to attract overseas tourists, the People's Government of Guangdong Province implemented a number of entry facilitation measures, including implementing 24-hour clearance at the Shenzhen Huanggang and Zhuhai Hengqin ports, extending the validity for cross-border transport permits and simplifying administrative procedures. The Guangdong Government will also expand the "144-hour Convenient Visa" policy to the entire province and expand the time limit for visa exemption from 72 hours to 144 hours.

Abstract

In order to promote tourism and travel convenience among the Greater Bay Area, the People's Government of Guangdong Province implemented various entry facilitation measures, which include the following:

Optimising the existing immigration policies

• Setting up visa application services at the entry ports of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Zhongshan for foreign visitors who do not have sufficient time to apply visas in advance;
• Implementing the "144-hour Convenient Visa" policy, and simplifying the application procedures for foreign visitors from diplomatic countries with Hong Kong and Macao passports to visit the 9 cities within the Pearl River Delta;
• Granting a 72-hour limit for visa exemption for foreign visitors from 53 countries, and allowing them to enter the country through Guangzhou Baiyun Airport for travel or visiting relatives and friends; and
• Foreigners from Hong Kong and Macao can apply for visas through the local Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

Promoting travel convenience within Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao

• Raising the quota for cross-border shuttle buses along the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, relaxation of license period and simplifying the application procedures;
• Expanding the coverage of transportation routes and cross-border passenger services to all major cities within the Greater Bay Area;
• Implementing 24-hour clearance at the Shenzhen Huanggang and Zhuhai Hengqin ports;
• Implementing a "joint boundary control system" in the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge;
• With the full commissioning of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, implementing a "co-location arrangement" at the West Kowloon Station port to maximise travel convenience within the Greater Bay Area;
• Issuance of "Action Plan for promoting the development of tourism with the Guangdong Province" to optimise port control and other public service infrastructure; and
• Improve the ports, railway, airports, and transport network within the Greater Bay Area, promoting convergence of port facilities and strengthening cooperation among airports within the area

Strengthening the cooperation in the joint promotion of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao

• A tourism organization for the overseas promotion of tourism within Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao has been set up;
• Implement the "Agreement on Deepening Cooperation between Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao for Developing Infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area"; and
• Develop multi-stop travel route within the Greater Bay Area