Relaxed regulations benefit Hong Kong travel

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Visa-free travel for Hong Kong residents begins today (April 1) and has prompted a surge in the number of people applying for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports

Visa-free travel for Hong Kong residents begins today (April 1) and has prompted a surge in the number of people applying for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports. Applicants rose from 37,700 in January to 61,200 in February after the announcement by the Japanese government.

In March, the Special Administrative Region (SAR) Immigration Department received a daily average of 3,000 SAR passport applications. The number of Hong Kong people joining Japan tours has risen by 100% on the lifting of visa requirement, according to Hong Kong travel agents, who said that Japan tour prices ranging from Hk$5,000 to HK$8,000 were the most popular.