Hong Kong logs 10,000 document requests for new mainland travel permit

About 10,000 requests for the document had been made as of Tuesday, according to the Immigration Department.

Announced on July 1, the new permit allows non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau to visit the mainland for short-term purposes such as investment, family trips, tourism, business, seminars and exchanges multiple times over a period of up to five years.

Permit holders can stay for up to 90 days on each trip and enjoy self-service clearance at border crossings once they have their fingerprints taken at a port of entry.

As of June, there were about 270,000 non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents.

The notice of application for access to information proves permanent residency status and nationality information. It is valid for six months.

Candidates must also fill out an application form for the permit and include a photo of themselves taken within the past six months.

Applicants are required to present their Hong Kong permanent resident identity card, a passport valid for at least the next six months and a nationality certificate.