The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR) planned to introduce an iPermit Scheme early next year to enhance travel convenience of Taiwan residents, a Government spokesman announced Tuesday.

Under the scheme, Taiwan residents would only need to submit their application at an authorised airline office in Taiwan. The application will immediately be transmitted to an independent computer system at the Immigration Department and the processing will automatically be completed in a few minutes.

If the application is approved, the applicant will instantly receive an "e-notification" and can board the plane to travel to Hong Kong any time.

Visitors from Taiwan have been the second largest tourist group visiting Hong Kong, with arrival figures second only to Mainland visitors. Last year, nearly 2.4 million Taiwan residents visited Hong Kong.

(Xinhua 07/31/2001)