Residents in Shanghai and Beijing queued up at exit and entry administrations of local public security bureaus yesterday to apply for travel permits to visit Hong Kong and Macao on an individual basis.

The arrangement, which has already been carried out in cities in South China's Guangdong Province, formally started in China's two wealthiest cities yesterday.

The first group of 60 Shanghai people got their permits for tours to Hong Kong and Macao yesterday, according to the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission.

"Shanghai people are especially enthusiastic about Hong Kong and it has been a long tradition," Wang Guangrong, market administration director with the commission, told China Daily.

The commission has established a special consultancy department for individual tours to Hong Kong and Macao and is working with Hong Kong tourism authorities to develop more tourism products for Shanghai residents and to train more local tour guides, according to Wang.

In Beijing, Ma Zhenchuan, director-general of the municipal public security bureau, told a press conference yesterday that the application procedures for passports and permits to visit Hong Kong and Macao will be simplified.

Exit and entry authorities used to require residents to obtain approval from their work units or neighbourhood committees in the application for such documents.

But starting yesterday, applicants only need an ID card and residency certificate, or hukou, to apply for passports. The new regulation on entry and exit management was welcomed by local residents.

The simplification will help promote travel between Beijing and Hong Kong and Macao, as well as other regions.

"The reform in entry and exit procedures makes it convenient for us to visit my daughter whenever we wish," said 65-year-old Du Chengxiang, whose daughter works in Hong Kong.

Some 640 people handed in their applications in Beijng yesterday.

(HK Edition 09/02/2003 page1)