Taiwan residents with Mainland entry permits may visit Hong Kong for up to 30 days, up from just seven, without applying for any endorsement from Sept. 1, Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang said?on Wednesday.

Tsang, who is also Honorary Chairperson of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council, made the remarks Wednesday at the second joint meeting of the council and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council.

The Hong Kong government is working on detailed arrangements to allow Taiwan residents to make prior entry registration online, he said, adding this would bolster Hong Kong-Taiwan exchanges.

Hong Kong and Taiwan has also made a tentative agreement to sign a banking regulatory co-operation deal soon during the meeting. Both sides reported good progress in the negotiation of the deal, which will further strengthen the close relationship already established.

The two sides have started discussions on the avoidance of double taxation on shipping income, and a liaison mechanism has been established.

Furthermore, both places have largely reached consensus on updating air-services arrangements.

They have agreed to further strengthen co-operation in education, insurance supervision and regulation, mutual recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and notary services, trade facilitation and creative industries.

Both sides also agreed to consider proposals to strengthen exchange and co-operation in law enforcement to combat cross- boundary criminal activities.

The third meeting will be held in Taiwan next year.

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