Eritrean and Pakistani nationals will require a visa to visit Hong Kong or transit through it from next Monday.

Travellers from the two countries usually enjoy 14-day visa-free visits to Hong Kong. However, due to the war in Iraq, the Immigration Department has tightened its scrutiny of visa applications from Eritreans and Pakistanis.

The department will continue to review its policies in light of ongoing developments. It has increased its scrutiny of visa applications from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Sudan and Syria until further notice.

The department said Hong Kong has all along adopted a liberal visa policy, with nationals of some 170 countries and territories able to visit without a visa and stay for durations of between seven and 180 days.

The department regularly reviews its visa policies and will take into account factors such as the social, economic and political situations of countries and territories concerned to devise a policy that will grant visas to genuine visitors while maintaining effective immigration control.