Panama and Armenia, which are along the Belt & Road, will grant visa-free access to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders, the Immigration Department announced today.

From February 10, HKSAR passport holders will not need a visa to stay in Panama for up to 30 days.

Meanwhile, from March 3, HKSAR passport holders may visit Armenia visa-free for up to 180 days.

Under the Belt & Road Initiative, the mutual visa-free arrangements will bring greater travel convenience to the travellers of Hong Kong, Panama and Armenia, and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the places, the department said.

Together with Panama and Armenia, 165 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders.