New measures have been introduced to make it easier for mainland residents to travel to the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs), officials with the Ministry of Public Security said Sunday.

The Central Government has implemented a new regulation, which came into effect yesterday, on the application, approval and issuance of travel permits to Hong Kong and Macao. Altogether 10 new measures have been taken to streamline procedures for mainland residents applying for SAR travel permits.

Under the new regulation, holders of SAR entry passes can choose any time within the first year to travel to Hong Kong and Macao and they only need to submit a statement to the relevant departments instead of publishing a statement in the newspaper in order to re-apply for their lost permits.

Mainland residents can also apply to go to Hong Kong and Macao for purposes such as attending a funeral, pursuing studies or taking up a job, according to the new regulation.

Mainland residents can apply for a new permit through the China Travel Agency in Hong Kong or Macao if they lose their permits, or when their permits are damaged.

With the implementation of the new regulation, a new edition of the SAR travel permit has also been issued.

Pictures of the Great Wall, bauhinia and lotus have been used as the background design for the travel permit. With the adoption of new technologies, the anti-counterfeiting capabilities of the new travel permit have been greatly improved, officials with the Ministry of Public Security said.

(Shenzhen Daily April 11, 2006)