Hong Kong visas made easy

In line with the government's move to attract a larger number of tourists from China, Taiwan will open an office in Hong Kong's airport to handle visa applications for Taiwan-bound travelers, a spokesman for the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. The office will be located in the office of the Chung Hwa Travel Service (中華旅行社) at the airport. It is slated to open May 10 to coincide with the government's policy change toward mainland Chinese tourists the same day, said Y.S. Chang, director of the MAC's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Department. Taiwanese authorities announced earlier the same day that it has decided to allow Hong Kong and Macao residents who have lived for over four years in these two areas -- and who hold work permits there -- to enter Taiwan as tourists. The government's decision came yesterday after it allowed mainland Chinese living overseas to travel in Taiwan from the beginning of this year.