EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Migration Regulations 1994

TOURIST VISA APPLICATIONS FROM CITIZENS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

(PARAGRAPH 676.214(a))

1. This Instrument is made under Regulation 1.17 and Paragraph 676.214(a) of the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’).

2.                  Regulation 1.17 is the general power to specify matters by way of Gazette Notice and paragraph 676.214 of the Regulations provides that if an application is made by a citizen of the PRC mentioned in subparagraph 1218(1)(b) in Schedule 1 to the Regulations, the applicant must be a resident of an area in the PRC specified by Gazette Notice, for the purposes of paragraph 676.214(a).

3.                  The purpose of the Instrument is to list all provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in Mainland China as specified areas for the purposes of paragraph 676.214(a) of the Regulations..

4.                  The Instrument operates to allow a greater number of Chinese Travel Agents to participate in the Approved Destinations Status (ADS) scheme in China.

5. As this instrument is likely to have a direct, or susbstantial indirect, effect on the Tourism industry, consultation was undertaken with China National Tourism Authoirty (CNTA), Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), Australian Department of Industry Tourism and Resources (DITR) and Tourism Australia (Ta).

6.                   The Instrument (IMMI06/002) commences on 28 February 2006.