Hong Kong SAR passport holders will be allowed to visit Japan for up to 90 days without a visa, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang announced yesterday.

"The landmark arrangement, effective from April 1, will produce significant benefits for both Japan and Hong Kong by strengthening our economic and cultural links," said the chief secretary after meetings in Tokyo with Japanese officials including Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi.

He said the agreement demon-strates the Japanese Government's confidence in the territory's immigration controls and Hong Kong travellers as law-abiding money-spenders.

With the inclusion of Japan, 129 countries and regions have now agreed to grant visa-free access to travellers with Hong Kong SAR passports, Tsang told reporters.

Last year, the territory was ranked as one of the top five sources of travellers to Japan, with about 480,000 Hong Kong residents visiting the country, according to government statistics.

Members of the tourist industry said they anticipate a 10 per cent increase in Hong Kong visitors to Japan after the new travel agreement is implemented in April, with more individual travellers making last-minute trips to the country.

Currently, SAR passport holders require visas to enter Japan, with a HK$71 visa fee for both single and multiple entries, while Japanese nationals may enter the territory without a visa for up to 90 days.

(HK Edition 02/05/2004 page2)