Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders may visit Uzbekistan without a visa for up to seven days starting January 1, the Immigration Department announced today.

Noting Uzbekistan is along the Belt & Road, the department said the visa-free arrangement will bring greater travel convenience, and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the two places.

Including Uzbekistan, 167 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.