Unofficial translation
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan hereby RESOLVES:
1. To approve the attached Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China on mutual exemption of visa requirements performed on May 9, 2012 in Hong Kong.
2. This resolution shall take effect from the date of signing.
| Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan | K. Massimov |
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China on mutual exemption of visa requirements
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter - the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), duly authorized by the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China to enter into this Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the “Contracting Parties”,
guided by the desire to enhance friendly relations and cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,
desiring to simplify travel arrangements for citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Agreement, “travel document” means:
1. For nationals of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
- valid diplomatic passport,
- valid official passport,
- valid passport of the national of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. For permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:
- valid passport of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Article 2
1. Nationals of the Republic of Kazakhstan who hold travel documents and do not intend to work, study or reside in the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may enter, leave, transit and stay in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region without a visa. The duration of each such stay may not exceed fourteen (14) days.
2. Permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who hold travel documents and do not intend to work, study or reside in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, may enter, leave, transit and stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan without a visa. The duration of each such stay may not exceed fourteen (14) days.
Article 3
1. Nationals of the Republic of Kazakhstan who hold travel documents and intend to enter the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for a period exceeding the term provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 2 of this Agreement shall obtain a visa before entering the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who hold travel documents and intend to enter the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan for a period exceeding the term provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 2 of this Agreement, shall obtain a visa before entering the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Article 4
1. In the event of loss or damage of travel documents during their stay in the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the nationals of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall immediately notify the competent authorities of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the consular office of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Nationals of the Republic of Kazakhstan whose travel documents were lost or damaged during their stay in the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be permitted to travel outside the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and return to the Republic of Kazakhstan on temporary identification documents giving the right to return to Republic of Kazakhstan, issued by the consular office of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Appropriate permit of the competent authorities of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall also be obtained.
3. Permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in case of loss or damage of travel documents during their stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan, shall immediately notify the competent authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the diplomatic mission or consular office of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
4. Permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, whose travel documents were lost or damaged during their stay on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, shall be allowed to travel outside the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and return to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the temporary identification documents giving the right to return to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued by a consular post of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Kazakhstan. An appropriate permit shall also be obtained from the competent authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Article 5
Persons referred to in Articles 2 and 3 of this Agreement shall cross the State border of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the border of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through border crossing points open for international passenger traffic.
Article 6
1. The competent authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall reserve the right to refuse entry or shorten the duration of stay in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan to persons whose presence is deemed undesirable.
2. The competent authorities of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall reserve the right to refuse entry or shorten the duration of stay in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to persons whose presence is deemed undesirable.
Article 7
1. During their stay in the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, nationals of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall abide by the laws and regulations effective in the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. During their stay in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall abide by the laws and regulations effective in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Article 8
1. The Contracting Parties shall reserve the right to suspend fully or partially the operation of this Agreement to avoid a threat to national or public security, public order or the health of the population of their states. The Contracting Parties shall notify each other in writing of such intention no later than seventy-two (72) hours before suspension of this Agreement.
2. The Contracting Parties shall immediately notify each other in writing of the termination of suspension of this Agreement.
Article 9
1. The competent authorities of the contracting Parties shall exchange the specimens of travel documents authorizing them to cross the border no later than thirty (30) days after signing this Agreement.
2. The competent authorities of the contracting Parties shall notify each other in writing of any changes in respect of travel documents giving the right to cross the border no later than thirty (30) days before the said changes take effect, and concurrently transfer the specimens of the changed travel documents to each other.
3. The competent authorities of the contracting Parties shall exchange information in writing regarding temporary documents referred to in Article 4 of this Agreement.
Article 10
Any disputes between the Contracting Parties arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be resolved through consultations and negotiations between the Contracting Parties.
Article 11
1. This Agreement may be amended or supplemented by mutual consent of the Contracting Parties.
2. The agreed changes or additions shall take effect in the manner provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 12 of this Agreement.
Article 12
1. This Agreement shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the last written notice on completion by the contracting Parties of the domestic procedures necessary for its entry into force.
2. This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite term and shall expire after 6 (six) months from the date of receipt by one Contracting Party of a written notification of the other Contracting Party of its intention to terminate it.
Done in Hong Kong on May 9, 2012, in two copies, each in the Kazakh and English languages, both texts being equally authentic. In the event of differences in the interpretation of the provisions of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall refer to the text in English.
For the Government |
For the Government |
