Expatriates and foreign visitors in Hong Kong will soon be given visa-free access to Shenzhen as part of new measures under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA, between the mainland and HK.

Shenzhen is a border city in south China's Guangdong Province, and became China's first special economic zone in the early 1980s.

Shenzhen tourism authorities say about 800,000 foreigners who visit the special economic zone via Hong Kong would benefit from the new measures.

It is understood that officials from the two cities will sign agreements next month on issues related to CEPA at a Guangdong-Hong Kong joint conference.

The deal is expected to include visa-free arrangement and measures on transport, immigration checkpoints, and finance and securities services.

(CRI March 26, 2004)