Wan Mu, the first Chongqing citizen to receive a digital travel pass for HK and Macao, shows the e-card to media at the local exit and entry management departments, Sept 15, 2014. The electronic pass cards look like national ID cards and contain integrated circuits that hold data about the individual, as well as issuance information. [Photo/Xinhua]
Starting today, mainland residents can use electronic cards to pass through customs when traveling to Hong Kong and Macao. The digital cards, which also help combat counterfeit certificates, are expected to improve efficiency for a large number of Chinese residents.
A record number of 65.54 million Chinese tourists visited Hong Kong and Macao last year, an increase of 16.1 percent over 2012.
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