and territories required CI holders to obtain visas before travelling. After the handover, all Hong Kong permanent residents with PRC Citizenship are eligible to apply for a Hong Kong SAR passport. Endorsements on CIs On 1 July 1987, the concept of "right of abode" was introduced in Hong Kong legislation. A modified Hong Kong Certificate of Identity was introduced to ensure that Certificates of Identity would be acceptable for the purpose of international travel both before and after the handover of Hong Kong. These documents contain an endorsement showing that “the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong”. To ensure Certificate of Identity will be acceptable for the purpose of international travel and for the return to HK after 30 June 1997, the British and the Chinese Government have agreed that the Certificate of Identity contain the following endorsement: Acceptance and visa-free access Countries that allowed Hong Kong Certificate of Identity holders to visit without visas: South Korea: 30 days Palau: no specific limit of stay (subject to final decision made by immigration officer, on individual merit) Netherlands Antilles / Aruba: 14 days Northern Mariana Islands: 1 month Singapore: 30 days After the HKSAR was established, a number of countries have ceased to accept CI's at different times. Those not yet eligible for HKSAR passports would recourse to the Document of Identity. However it is no longer possible to possess a valid CI as a travel document, because all CIs have expired by 30 June 2007. Notes contained in the Certificate of Identity The following statements were printed in both English and traditional Chinese. Front cover Back cover 1. This Certificate of Identity remains property of the Hong Kong government. It will normally be cancelled if the holder obtains a national passport or other travel document. 2. Certificates of identity are normally valid for ten years from date of issue, but may be made valid for shorter periods in certain circumstances. 3. The holder may return to Hong Kong without visa, provided the Certificate is valid. 4. The holder is advised to obtain visas for any country he wishes to visit or pass through. 5. Should the holder take up residence in a country or territory outside Hong Kong application should be made to the competent authorities of this country of residence for a new travel document. 6. The issue of this certificate does not confer a right