The Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China recently announced that starting from April the citizens of county-level cities may now apply for an exit document for private purposes, covering passport, visa or exit-entry permit for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao in their place of residence, without having to go back to their hometown to take care of the procedures as before, in a new facilitation measure. Applications will still be vetted by the local Exit and Entry Administration Offices of the Public Security Bureau of the applicants within 30 days.

Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR, Yao Jian, said that the endorsement of various remote Mainland administrative departments to further improve public services is an important measure which can facilitate the convenience of citizens, as many people work or study in different parts of China. In the past, citizens had to apply for such documents by returning to their place of household registration, involving many procedures, cost and transportation. The new arrangement means applicants can now apply for endorsement places; police immigration departments currently provide convenient services, which it is hoped will encourage citizens from the Mainland to travel to Hong Kong, Macao and abroad.

Mr. Yao also said that the intention of the new policy is to facilitate administrative formalities for Mainland citizens in a convenient manner whilst enabling more citizens from the Mainland to travel to Macao on the individual visit scheme.