Visa-on-arrival access to Saudi Arabia for HKSAR passport holders and extension of visa-free period for nationals of Saudi Arabia visiting Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has received notification from the Royal Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in HKSAR (Consulate General) that HKSAR passport holders can apply for a tourist visa upon arrival through six designated control points in Saudi Arabia. There are two types of tourist visas: a single-entry visa for a maximum stay of 30 days, and a multiple-entry visa for a maximum stay of 90 days.
HKSAR passport holders are also eligible to apply for an eVisa to visit Saudi Arabia prior to their visit. For details, please refer to the website visa.visitsaudi.com. HKSAR passport holders are advised to consult the Consulate General for detailed information before travelling.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Department announced today that, with effect from January 15, 2025, the visa-free period for nationals of Saudi Arabia to visit the HKSAR will be extended from 30 to 90 days.
An Immigration Department spokesman said, "Saudi Arabia is along the Belt and Road. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the visa-on-arrival and eVisa arrangements will bring greater travel convenience to HKSAR passport holders visiting Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, these arrangements and the extension of the visa-free visit period for nationals of Saudi Arabia will enhance tourism, cultural and economic ties between the two places."
As of today, 172 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders, including all six member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Please visit the following website for details:
www.immd.gov.hk/eng/service/travel_document/visa_free_access.html or scan the attached code.
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected ketamine worth about $9.2 million
Hong Kong Customs on January 19 and yesterday (January 20) detected two drug trafficking cases at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 20 kilograms of suspected ketamine. The total estimated market value of the drugs was about $9.2 million.
The first case involved a 29-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on January 19. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 6kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
The second case involved two male passengers, aged 41 and 31, who arrived in Hong Kong from Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 14kg of suspected ketamine inside their check-in suitcases. They were subsequently arrested.
The arrested male in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 22). An investigation of the second case is ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).