AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINAAND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS ON MUTUAL EXEMPTION OFVISA REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OFTHE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINAAND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS ON MUTUAL EXEMPTION OFVISA REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OFTHE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS Whole document The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius (hereinafter referred to as the two Contracting Parties), with a view to developing friendly relations between the two countries, promoting trade and economic development and facilitating personnel exchanges between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Mauritius, have, through friendly consultations, reached agreement on mutual exemption of visa requirements between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Mauritius as follows: Article I Citizens of the People's Republic of China, who are holders of valid passports of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China shall be exempted from visa requirements for entry into, exit from or transit through the territory of the Republic of Mauritius, and the duration of stay shall not exceed ninety days; Citizens of the Republic of Mauritius, who are holders of valid passports of the Republic of Mauritius (including the accompanying persons who share the same passport of the holder), shall be exempted from visa requirements for entry into, exit from or transit through the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and the duration of stay shall not exceed ninety days.

Article II The passport holders referred to in Article I and being citizens of a Contracting State referred to in that Article shall- (a) during their stay in the territory of the other Contracting State referred to in that Article; and (b) where their stay in that territory would exceed the valid period of visa exemption, abide by the relevant laws, regulations and procedures applicable in that territory.

Article III The Chief Executive or the Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the officials of or above ministerial level and officers at the rank of general or above of the armed forces of the Republic of Mauritius shall be exempted from visa requirements while entering areas under the jurisdiction of the other Party, but shall obtain prior consent of the Central Government of the other Contracting Party through diplomatic channels.

Article IV This Agreement does not restrict the right of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Mauritius to prohibit personae non grata or unacceptable persons of the other Contracting Party from entering its territory or to terminate their stay in its territory without citing reasons therefor.

Article V Either Contracting Party may temporarily suspend the implementation of this Agreement partly or wholly on grounds of national security, social order and public health. However, the other Contracting Party shall be notified in advance of such suspension of the Agreement and its subsequent release through diplomatic channels, and the suspension and release shall enter into force upon the day of that notice.

Article VI 1. The Two Contracting Parties shall complete the exchange of samples of their passports referred to in Article I within 30 days of the signing of this Agreement through diplomatic channels.

2. Either Contracting Party, in case of any change of the forms of its passports, shall inform the other Contracting Party, through diplomatic channels, 30 days in advance and furnish it with samples of new passports.

Article VII 1. This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 July 1997.

2. This Agreement shall remain valid for an indefinite period of time.

If either Contracting Party wishes to terminate this Agreement, it shall notify the other Contracting Party in writing through diplomatic channels.

This Agreement shall cease to be effective on the ninetieth day after the date of that notice.

3. Additional clauses or amendments to this Agreement may be made, as appropriate, by the two Contracting Parties after consultations.

Article VIII The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China shall, with effect from 1 July 1997, authorize the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to implement this Agreement.

Done in Beijing on April 14, 1997 in duplicate in the Chinese and English languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of the For the Government of People's Republic of China the Republic of Mauritius