Residents of five more Chinese cities may travel to Hong Kong and Macao on an individual basis beginning in September, according to a new policy released Thursday by the Ministry of Public Security.

According to the ministry, residents of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai can apply for the travel permission to Hong Kong and Macao as of Sept.1.

Beginning July 28, residents of Zhongshan, Dongguan, Jiangmen and Foshan of south China's Guangdong Province could apply for visit to Hong Kong and Macao with their ID cards or residence registration.

The length of each stay in Hong Kong or Macao may not exceed seven days, but the number of applications is not restricted.

The same policy will be extended to the entire province of Guangdong by May 1, 2004, according to the ministry.

The new policy will facilitate business trips by mainland individual business people and those who work for enterprises registered in Hong Kong and Macao.

Bai Jingfu, vice minister of public security, said that the measure meets the need of the people on the mainland for sightseeing, studying and doing business in Hong Kong and Macao, and is expected to help push forward the development of tourism and economy in the two regions.

(People's Daily August 8, 2003)