Hong Kong SAR passport holders will be able to visit Russia visa-free for 14 days under a preliminary pact signed by Director of Immigration Peh Yun-lu and Russian Ambassador Sergey Razov in Beijing today.

The implementation date will be announced when internal procedures are completed mid-year.

The arrangement will make Hong Kong one of the few advanced economies whose residents will enjoy visa-free access to Russia, promoting trade, business and tourism.

The deal brings the number of countries and territories agreeing to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders to 138.