Consulate Quashes Thai Visa Rumour

[george]

Consulate quashes Thai visa rumour

HONG KONG: -- The Thai Consulate [in Hong Kong] has insisted Bangkok has not revoked visa-free access to British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders following a conflicting announcement earlier in the day by the consulate that they would need a visa from October.

Currently, both SAR and BNO passport holders enjoy 30-day visa-free access to Thailand.

Following the news, and reports from local travel agencies Tuesday night that BNO passport holders would need a visa from Wednesday, Hong Kong immigration received a flood of fast-track SAR passport applications.

The visa situation for BNO document holders has been uncertain since a 1997 visa-free agreement between Thailand and Hong Kong expired in June.

But a press release on the consulate's website Wednesday confirmed that the visa exemption remains unchanged.

Consul Politics/Information officer Nipatsorn Kampa also said that rumours BNO passport holders would need visas came from staff who misunderstood immigration rules written in Thai script.

``There has been some misunderstanding, or there has been some misinterpretation of the Thai text,'' she said.

``But I like to confirm our policies remain unchanged, that BNO passport holders can still go to Thailand without a visa.''

Earlier Wednesday, a consulate spokeswoman announced that starting from October 1, BNO passport holders would have to apply for a visa before arriving in Thailand, but SAR passport holders would remain exempt.

``Most Hong Kong people have SAR passports which still enjoy a 30-day visa-free access in Thailand,'' the spokeswoman said.

``BNO passport holders will have to apply for a visa if they travel to Thailand on or after October 1.''

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung said the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Hong Kong said late on Wednesday that the decision to reintroduce visas for BNO passport holders had been suspended.

He said travel agents had been told late on Tuesday that starting from Wednesday BNO passport holders would need a visa to enter Thailand.

``I could not contact the consulate after office hours, and the Immigration Department told me they did not handle British passport issues.'' Tung said.

``It was so confusing.''

He said the industry did not expect any possible future change in visa requirement to have a huge impact since all BNO holders could apply for an SAR passport. ``But we are asking the Thai government to give us at least two weeks' prior notice in case BNO passport holders are required to apply for visas.''

He said Hong Kong tourists who left for Thailand yesterday had no problems entering the country.

As of 4pm Wednesday, the immigration department had received more than 300 special requests for fast-track SAR passport applications.

``Among them, more than 170 cases were for travel to Thailand,'' a department spokeswoman said.

``One of them was so urgent that he is departing [on Thursday].''

She said the department was re-allocating staff to handle the extra workload.

A 32-page SAR passport costs HK$320, and normally takes 15 working days to issue. A Thai visa takes two working days and costs HK$200, according to the consulate.

The SAR passport has gained international recognition since its introduction seven years ago.

Earlier this year, Japan granted visa-free access to SAR passport holders while Mexico lifted its visa requirement from September 18.

A total of 132 countries now grant visa-free access to SAR passport holders.

Director of Immigration Lai Tung-kwok said the department was now looking into the feasibility of integrating biometrics into the SAR passport to tie in with global trends and enhance anti-fraud protection.

Biometrics such as the photograph of the passport holder will be put in the passport,'' he said. ``Other biometrics include fingerprints or iris records.''

He said the department plans to issue the new passports in 2007.

Two-year-old Wong Wing-chi became the three-millionth recipient of an SAR passport.

--The Standard, HK 2004-09-10