Shenzhen authorities have halted accepting applications by temporary residents' for travel permits to Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions because of system upgrading.

The border exit and entrance department of the municipal public security bureau said a province-wide upgrading of border computer systems had suspended the processing of applications and a resumption date had not yet been decided, the Daily Sunshine reported Wednesday.

The latest information can be obtained from the Web site: http://www.sz3e.com.

Permanent Shenzhen residents’ applications for travel permits are unaffected.

(Shenzhen Daily January 20, 2005)