China's facilitated individual travel policy on Macao- and Hong Kong-bound travel has gained widespread support from the public.

According to a survey conducted at the end of September by the Beijing-based Horizon Research Group Inc, at least half of the population surveyed in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, said the policy, which allows independent travel in the two regions, has brought convenience to planning holidays in those areas.

Another 37.5 per cent of these surveyed believed the policy was "very good."

In the past, mainland residents could only travel in the two regions by joining a tourist group.

But this July, the country's public security department adjusted the old rule and began a trial run of the new regulations first in some cities in Guangdong such as Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Then residents of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Huizhou in Guangdong started enjoying the new rules as of August 20, while Beijing and Shanghai residents began to benefit from the policy on September 1.

According to the new policy, people are required to provide only residential cards and identification cards when applying for the passes to Hong Kong and Macao.

The process is much simpler than before, when people had to submit all materials that can prove the purpose of their trips.

The survey covered 250 people between the ages of 18 and 60 in Guangzhou's five districts, 25.9 per cent of whom planned to go travelling during this National Day holiday.

Among those who intended to travel overseas, 80 per cent chose Hong Kong and Macao as destinations.

The survey also found that nearly 60 per cent of these travellers to Hong Kong and Macao will go by themselves, instead of joining tour groups.

Xinhua contributed to this story

(China Daily 10/07/2003 page1)