The Chinese government will adopt a series of preferential measures to facilitate mainlanders' entry into the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), sources with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the China's State Council said Wednesday.

The measures mean all mainland travel agencies authorized to organize overseas-bound tour groups, will be allowed to arrange Hong Kong tours for mainlanders.

More importantly, the quota system for mainlanders visiting Hong Kong will also be abolished from January 2002, which will encourage more mainlanders to visit Hong Kong, sources say.

To make it easier for mainland businesspeople, multi-entry business visas will be extended to a maximum of three years.

State-owned large enterprises and financial institutions will be authorized to allow their members to come to Hong Kong and Macao to conduct business.

Approval formalities for mainland public servants applying to visit Hong Kong and Macao will also be streamlined.

In addition, more flexible multi-entry tourist and visit visas will be granted to foreign permanent residents in Hong Kong and their spouses and children.

(People's Daily 10/10/2001)