Hong Kong Secretary for Security Regina Ip signed an Agreement on Abolition of Visa Requirements with visiting Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski in Hong Kong Thursday.

"Upon implementation, the agreement will provide visa-free access for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport holders for visits up to 90 days to Poland. Likewise, nationals of Poland will have 90 days' visa-free access to Hong Kong," a spokesman for the Security Bureau said.

"The agreement will take effect after Poland has completed all necessary domestic procedures, which will take approximately two months," the spokesman added.

The agreement represents collective efforts of Hong Kong and Poland to promote travel convenience in both ways which will further help promote trade, business and tourism links between the two places.

The agreement, when implemented, will bring to 92 the total number of countries and regions granting visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders.

(People's Daily 08/31/2001)